Ashcan Art The Ashcan School was a group of New York City artists who sought to capture the feel of turn-of-the-century New York through realistic portraits of everyday life. These artists were depicting the lower class and richly textured immigrant cultures. Pulling away from fantasy, and focusing on the grit and reality of daily life, American Realism presented a breakthrough— introducing Modernism, and what it means to be in the present.

Critics of the time did not always appreciate their choice of subjects, which included alleys, tenements, slum dwellers, and in the case of John French Sloan, taverns frequented by the working class.

NY Slums – George Bellows

McSorley’s Bar – John French Sloan

Cards – Edward Hopper

Sunday, Women Drying their Hair – John Sloan

Dempsey and Firpo – George Bellows

Artists of the 1920’s Rejected the new business society. And they also questioned the value of politics. Many believed that World War I had been a terrible mistake. These artists had little faith in the political leaders who came to power after the war. They felt a need to protest the way the world was changing around them.

The 1920s was one of the most active and important periods for the more serious arts. Writers, painters, and other artists produced some of the greatest work in the nation's history. Many of the nation's serious artists had a different and darker view of society. They were troubled deeply by the changes they saw. They believed that Americans had become too interested in money and wealth. “Serious” Art

In the 1920’s, an art show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City showcased American and European Modernist Artists. The show caused a huge public debate in the United States. Traditional art critics accused the organizers of the show of trying to overthrow Christianity and American values. Former President, Theodore Roosevelt and others denounced the new art as a threat to the country.

EUROPEAN MODERNIST PAINTERS During the “Weimar Era,” the interwar period (between WWI and WWII) between 1919 and 1933, Europe was filled with the living half- dead. Many soldiers returned from war scarred, crippled and missing limbs. Many men were irreparable, and widows / mothers were left to fend for themselves and their children. For some war widows, prostitution--and the emotional numbness that made that profession bearable--was the only option.

Self portrait POW

War Cripples – Otto Dix

Transplantation – Otto Dix

Insanity – Pablo Picasso

Prostitution

Otto Dix “The war was a horrible thing, but there was something tremendous about it too. I didn't want to miss it at any price. You have to have seen human beings in this unleashed state to know what human nature is... I need to experience all the depths of life for myself, that's why I go out, and that's why I volunteered.”

Trenches

Meal Time in the Trenches

Dance of Death

Skull

The Bombing of Lens

Stormtroopers during a Gas Attack

Retreating from the Battle of the Somme

A Dead Horse

Kathe Kollwitz Where do all the women who have watched so carefully over their loved ones get the heroism to send them to face the cannon? I toy with the thought (of)... mothers standing in a circle defending their children, as a sculpture in the round. –Kathe Kollwitz Kollwitz Believed that art should reflect social conditions in one's time.

Mother Protecting Her Child

Widows and Orphans

Despair

The Mothers

“Degenerate” Art In 1927, the National Socialist Society for German Culture was formed. The aim of this organization was to halt the "corruption of art" and inform the people about the relationship between race and art. By 1933, the terms "Jewish," "Degenerate," and "Bolshevik" were in common use to describe almost all modern art. Degenerate Art is the English translation of a German term (Entartete Kunst) to describe virtually all modern art. Those identified as degenerate artists were subjected to sanctions… –These included being dismissed from teaching positions, being forbidden to exhibit or to sell their art, and in some cases being forbidden to produce art entirely.

The Harlem Renaissance

Where is Harlem? New York City is on Manhattan Island Harlem is a district in New York City

Reasons for the Renaissance Age of freedom and experimentation Urban Migration of Blacks Rise of radical African American thinkers Striking back at the rebirth of the KKK

How did it Impact History? The Harlem Renaissance helped redefine how African American culture was understood Began to integrate black and white cultures and marked the beginning of black urban society Set the stage for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 60’s

JAZZ MUSICIANS LOUIE ARMSTRONG BESSIE SMITH Duke Ellington

THEMES OF RENAISSANCE “Aspiration” by Aaron Douglas Alienation and Marginality of Blacks Racial Consciousness and racial pride Establish place and importance in society Expression of culture through writings, music, art, ideas, national groups

Into Bondage - Aaron Douglas

The Janitor Who Paints – Palmer Hayden

Jeunesse - Palmer Hayden

Nightlife – Archibald Motley