Stage 1 – Romanticism
“The last of the great days.”
Soft light and warm brushstrokes depict an idealized countryside at sunset. The mood is nostalgic and peaceful, like a beautiful daydream. Memories are intact—glorified even.

Stage 2 – Impressionism
“You’re trying to hold onto the moment, but it’s slipping.”
Details begin to blur. The scene remains recognizable, but brush dabs and flickering light suggest the man is working harder to recall. Something feels off, but he won’t admit it.

Stage 3 – Cubism
“The moment’s cracked.”
Memories begin to fragment. Scenes are broken into shapes and rearranged. Coherent moments exist, but they’re tangled. Familiar becomes strange. The world is no longer whole.

Stage 4 – Abstract Expressionism
“The canvas is screaming.”
Emotions boil over. Confusion, fear, and chaos erupt in violent color and form. There’s no clear shape—only the feeling of panic, distortion, and rapid cognitive decline.

Stage 5 – Dadaism
“Meaning has broken down.”
Nonsense symbols. Random images. A surreal collage of broken language and logic. Time no longer flows—reality is absurd. Clarity flickers, but nothing stays long.

Stage 6 – Minimalism / Void Art
No description.
A single black square on an empty canvas. The silence after everything is gone. The self has vanished. Nothing remains but a faint echo.

Six Stages of Dementia Through Art Movements