INTRODUCTION TO MODERNISM

MODERNISM 1860’s-1970’s As an art historical term, modern refers to a period from roughly the 1860’s - 1970’s and is used to describe the ideology of art during that era. It is known as a radically new attitude toward art. Artists such as Edward Manet rejected the depiction of historical events in favour of the portrayal of contemporary life. Avant-garde artists began to be regarded as ahead of their time. Modern art arose as part of western society’s attempt to come to terms with the urban, industrial and secular society that began to emerge in the mid 1800’s as influenced by the Industrial Revolution.

MODERNISM 1860’s-1970’s Modernist artists worked centrally first in the city of Paris and later New York. These have been referred to as the `centre of the artworld’ during this time. Modernist artists embraced the notion of progress and this can be seen through the direct influence from each movement. They can be seen as reacting from each other an as breaking and forging new boundaries in artistic expression. This art era has been described by Australian art critic Robert Hughes as `The Shock of the New’.

The Gleaners, 1857 Musee d’Orsay Setting the scene: Realism REALISM 1850’s KEY CHARACTERISTICS Realist art originated in France. Realism implied not just the accuracy of the depiction of nature but also an interest in day to day everyday subjects. The terms realism and naturalism can be used to describe the same period. Artists rejected traditional historical subjects to depict `real’ and at times working class subjects. This is why this period is seen to have set the seen for the Modernist art era ahead. Jean-Francois Millet, The Gleaners, 1857 Musee d’Orsay

IMPRESSIONISM 1870 – 1880’s KEY CHARACTERISTICS Artists were concerned with portraying their personal impressions of a subject. - Artists worked Plein air (painting outdoors) to capture the effects of changing light, weather, and atmosphere. Use of small canvases and light coloured grounds. - Everyday subjects of people and natural and urban landscapes Edouard Manet Bar aux Folies – Bergeres, 1881 - 1882

Impressionism 1870 – 1880’s Claude Monet Haystacks at Noon, 1890 Edgar Degas,The Star Dancer on Stage 1878

Vincent Van Gogh, The Artist’s Room at Arles, 1888 Post Impressionism 1880’s – 1890’s POST IMPRESSIONISM KEY CHARACTERISTICS Artists reacted against Impressionism by beginning to use non-naturalistic colour - focus on emotion and feeling Use of thick paint and expressive brushstrokes -applied paint sometimes in daubs Vincent Van Gogh, The Artist’s Room at Arles, 1888

Paul Gauguin Arearea (Joyousness) 1892 oil on canvas

Cubism (Europe1907- 1914) CUBISM KEY CHARACTERISTICS -Subjects were deconstructed into their formal qualities of space and form -Flattened space and plains of the form emphasised -Multiple perspectives represented simultaneously to present a more `true’ vision of the object Pablo Picasso Les Demoiselles d’Avignon 1907 Oil on canvas

BAUHAUS 1919-33 KEY CHARACTERISTICS It was founded in 1919, and closed by the Nazis in 1933 Highly influential design school originating in Germany had an impact on art and design practices including the De Stijl movement The Bauhaus began with an utopian definition: "The building of the future" was to combine all the arts in ideal unity. Part of the aim was to remove any distinction between fine arts and applied arts. Motto: "art and technology - a new unity“ combining functional and aesthetic aspects. Marianne Brandt: Bauhaus Tea Pot, 1924

DE STIJL KEY CHARACTERISTICS An art movement advocating pure abstraction and simplicity Form was reduced to the rectangle and other geometric shapes and colour to the primary colours, along with black and white. Piet Mondrian (Dutch, 1872-1944) was the group's leading figure. Greatly influenced by the Bauhaus school of art and design DE STIJL 1920’S-30’S Gerrit T. Rietveld (Dutch, 1884-1964), Red-Blue Chair, c. 1923, hardwood lacquered in blue, red, and yellow, (86.7 x 66 x 83.8. Although this chair's design is consistent with the aesthetic of De Stijl, it was presented at a Bauhaus exhibition in 1923

Piet Mondrian, Composition in Red, Blue, and Yellow, 1937-42, oil on canvas, (60.3 x 55.4 cm), Piet Mondrian, Broadway Boogie Woogie. 1942-43, oil on canvas, 127 x 127 cm),

Futurism (Europe 1909- WW1) KEY CHARACTERISTICS -Futurist artists rejected old cultural ideas -They made art which emphasized the dynamism, speed, energy, and power of the machine and the vitality, change, and restlessness of modern life in general. - Appeared similar to the Cubist styles but with the added characteristic of suggested movement Umberto Boccioni: The Unique Forms of Continuity in Space, 1913. Museum of Modern Art, New York.

The City Rises 1910 Oil on canvas (199.3 x 301 cm) Umberto Boccioni: The City Rises 1910 Oil on canvas (199.3 x 301 cm) Marcel Duchamp Nude Descending a Staircase, 1911-12, oil on canvas

Dada (Europe1916-) DADA KEY CHARACTERISTICS -Anti- art movement reacting against the Western values and beliefs held by those in power in the government and cultural institutions including art -This movement allowed artistic expression for those who were anti WWI in a direct and confrontational manner, -Anti aesthetic in that they attempted to challenge ideas of making art and the way it appeared by using ready-mades -rejecting accepted values of art

Man Ray, Indestructible Object, 1923, replica 1965 Kurt Schwitters, Opened by Customs, 1937-8, paper collage, oil and pencil on paper

Surrealism (Europe 1924 to 1950's) KEY CHARACTERISTICS `Surrealism is a style in which fantasy and dream-like visual imagery was explored Artists explored the subconscious mind as subject matter It was a primarily European movement that attracted many members of the Dada movement. Deeply influenced by the psychoanalytic work of Freud and Jung. Salvador Dali The Persistence of Memory, 1931 Oil on canvas Salvador Dali 'The Temptation of St. Anthony' 1946

Rene Magritte The Son of Man Rene Magritte This is not a pipe Rene Magritte The Son of Man 1964 oil on canvas  116 x 89 cm

Abstract Expressionism (USA 1947- ) KEY CHARACTERISTICS -This movement began in the USA after WWII. - focusing on the `act’ rather than the product of painting. -An experiential approach was taken with paint application and expression and canvas size increased dramatically. -The painting `act’, or `action’ painting became the emphasis of this movement which was developed by Jackson Pollock. Willem de Kooning Woman V Oil on canvas(1952-53)

Jackson Pollock (USA 1912-1956) Lavender Mist: Number 1, 1950 1950; Oil on canvas, Oil, enamel, and aluminum on canvas; 221 x 300 cm (7 ft 3 in x 9 ft 10 in); National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Jackson Pollock (USA 1912-1956)

Pop Art (UK/ USA1953-) KEY CHARACTERISTICS Reacted against elite art practices of Abstract Expressionist movement. Aimed to appeal to mass audience and was a product of the commercialization of the time in America and the west. Influenced by `popular ‘culture as seen in the mass media, cartoons, packaged food, commercial posters television Many works included some criticism on the commercial world by over simplifying subject matter Richard Hamilton, Just What Is It That Makes Today0 Homes so Different, so Appealling, collage, 1956.

WARHOL, Andy Double Elvis 1963 Silkscreen ink on aluminum paint on primed canvas 83 x 81 1/2 in Private collection

Op Art (UK/USA1955-) KEY CHARACTERISTICS Optical art, or Op art as it is better known, became popular in Europe and in the United States in the mid 1960s. Optical Art is a mathematically-oriented form of Abstract art. Characterized by hard-edged black and white patterns or geometric shapes. Repetition of simple forms and colors to create vibrating effects. Bridget Riley Movement in Squares, 1961 Tempera on Hardboard, 481/2x473/4

You have now learnt the basics of Modernism! Congratulations! You have now learnt the basics of Modernism!