How does this object and its claim to be art challenge or violate our ideas of what art is? What ARE the “rules” of art?
Modernism: The Beginnings
Raphael, School of Athens, fresco from the Stanza della Segnatura, 1510-11 The picture as a “window to another world”
Modernity and Modernism Modern Art time period is from around 1850-1960, movements from Realism to Abstract Expressionism Markers of modernity: capitalism, industrial progress, democracy, technology, standard of living, urban culture, secularism, optimism, search for universals Changes in the art market: major exhibitions (Academic Salon) and a huge market for prints, larger volume of anonymous purchases from the bourgeoisie (similar to Dutch Republic in the 17th century)
The Academy: Two typical academic paintings by William Bouguereau, Nymphs and Satyr 1873, The Birth of Venus, 1879
Avant-Garde French military term meaning “advance guard” sometimes you will see “vanguard” which means the same thing First used in 1825 in the artistic sense by Olinde Rodrigues Not a style of art but an orientation towards innovation Young, middle-class, urban, with art training but chafing against the restrictions of academic art Realism is first avant-garde movement Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, 1907 (Cubism)
Louis Daguerre, Boulevard du Temple, 1838
Edouard Manet, Dejeuner sur l’Herbe, (Luncheon on the Grass) 1863
Renaissance versus modern subject matter Honore Daumier, The Third Class Carriage, 1862-64
Claude Monet, Impressionism -Focus on the eye and perceptions, not interpretations -Interest in light and color, momentary atmospheric conditions -Quick, unfinished look -Image becomes abstract up close -No narrative or traditional subject matter -Modern life, ordinary life, nature, and the bourgeoisie are common subjects
Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893 Expressionism and Symbolism Artist explores interior, subjective world Emotions trump objective reality in representations of colors, brushstrokes, etc.
Henri Matisse, Le Bonheur de Vivre (the Joy of Life), 1905-6 “Before a picture is a war horse, a female nude or some anecdote it is essentially a flat surface covered with colors assembled in a certain order. (Maurice Denis, Art et Critique 1890)” Artist: Henri Matisse Title: Le Bonheur de Vivre (The Joy of Life) Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 5'8½" X 7" 9¾" (1.74 X 2.38 m) Date: 1905–6 Source/ Museum: The Barnes Foundation, Merion, Pennsylvania (BF 719)
Wassily Kandinsky, Sketch I for Composition VII, 1913 Non-objective painting (AKA abstract or non-representational)—color and shape conveys all of the content: no subject matter
Cezanne, Mont Sainte-Victoire, 1902-4
Picasso, Les Demoiselles D’Avignon, 1907, 2.43 x 2.33 m Artist: Pablo Picasso Title: Les Demoiselles D’Avignon (The Young Ladies of Avignon) Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 8' X 7'8" (2.43 X 2.33 m) Date: 1907 Source/ Museum: The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Acquired through the Lillie P. Bliss Bequest, (333.1939)
Picasso, Still Life with Chair Caning
Picasso, Guitar, Sheet Music, and Wine Glass, 1912
Marcel Duchamp, Fountain, 1917 Artist: Marcel Duchamp Title: Fountain Medium: Porcelain plumbing fixture and enamel paint Size: height 24⅝" (62.5 cm) Date: 1917 Source/ Museum: Photograph by Alfred Stieglitz. Philadelphia Museum of Art. Louise and Walter Arensberg Collection (1998–74–1)