"I think it was another generation of film critics which related to Citizen Kane."
This is simply not true.
If you look at any of the many lists of "100 greatest" which innundate the web, all produced since the millenium, you will find "Citizen Kane" at or near the top of all of the lists of 100 Greatest films.
Among the reasons "Kane" is rated so highly by professional film critics is its use of innovative cinematographic technique.
Much of what we have seen in film over the last 60 years may be traced directly to and should be seen as an homage to Welles and "Kane".
Art that is not contemporary does not cease to be art.