Modernism Modernism in the Visual Arts refers to a specific period and to an attitude or philosophy. It refers to a belief that history moves in a line; That each successive step along that line is “progress”; That progress is “good”.

Modernism has its origins in the period known as the “Enlightenment”. This was the period from the 17 th and 18 th Centuries when Western culture moved from belief, obedience and superstition to the development of “modern” science and technology, a belief in the power of reason or “rationalism”, a belief in concepts like equality, justice and democracy. These attitudes underpinned the French Revolution of 1789 and the founding of the United States of America a decade earlier. Eugène Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People, 28 July

Important figures of Modernism include the scientists: Charles Darwin – “On the Origin of the Species….” 1859, which laid the foundations of modern Biology. Karl Marx – “Capital” Marx systematically analysed Society and Social Change and made his combination of Economics and Sociology the basis of “Scientific Socialism”. Sigmund Freud – “The Interpretation of Dreams” Freud introduced the concept of Psychoanalysis and brought Psychology into the scientific foreground. Albert Einstein - “The Special and General Theories of Relativity” Einstein brought Physics into the modern world.

In the Visual Arts Modernism is a response to the modernism that occurred in the wider culture. Just as one theory in science replaced another so one style, often justified with elaborate theory, replaced earlier styles. Artists, critics and the public often believed that this was progress.

Abraham Darby The Iron Bridge, Shropshire 1779 This bridge can claim to be the first work of modern architecture. It used modern technology – precast iron sections assembled on site – to make a structure much lighter and stronger than a stone bridge. This allowed a much wider span, with one arch covering the entire river.

Darby’s technology made possible the huge “engine sheds” of the 19 th Century London railway stations – St Pancras and Victoria – as well as Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace of These were considered as functional engineering works at the time, but are now seen as important architectural works.

While architects like William Henry Barlow and George Stevenson were building the modern functional structures a more conservative, backward looking style was used for the front of the station. In this case St Pancras Station is fronted by a huge hotel designed by George Gilbert Scott and built from This building would not have looked out of place 300 years earlier.

Realism in the 19 th Century As Scientists were concerned with exploring the real world so artists began to look at what the world really looked like, rather than idealising it or using it for expression. Artists like Daumier,Corot, Millet andCourbet, were working in France from about 1840 to They painted ordinary people leading their everyday lives. Although other artists had depicted similar subjects in earlier times, the realists took a fresh and unemotional view. It is this group of artists, rather than the later Impressionists that influenced the Australian artists of the late 19 th Century

Gustave Courbet ( ). The Stormy Sea (or The Wave) 1869 In this painting Courbet is concerned with capturing the visual reality of a fleeting scene – a stormy sea with wind-blown clouds. He is capturing “the moment”

In A Burial at Ornans Courbet shows us the peasants of a country area (the Jura) gathered for the funeral of a member of the community. In earlier times such a scene would show important people at the funeral of a “notable”, For Courbet in this painting these peasants are of equal value to the rich and famous. Courbet was a Socialist.

In Jean-François Millet’s The Gleaners 1857 the artist shows a realistic scene of country life without any attempt at idealism. The realism here is both Visual and Social.

Here Daumier shows us passengers in a railway carriage – a great novelty at the time. Until the railways long distance travel was long, tedious, uncomfortable and expensive. The passengers are shown realistically, without sentiment. Honore Daumier Third-Class Carriage

Edouard Manet Bar at the Folies-Bergeres

Edgar Degas Laundress (Silhouette) c. 1874

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec Woman Pulling up her Stocking 1894