1. invention of abstraction

2. Abstract ArtExpressionism & Fauvism Abstract art came about in the early 20 th century (1900s) after Expressionism & Fauvism. Both are by the same artist...

3. Pablo Picasso’s Les Desmoiselles D’Avignon is considered to be the first painting in “Modern Art”.

4. What is abstract art? Essentially the opposite of Expressionism because the subject matter is often devoid of emotion/psychological meaning Main focus is design ; how all the parts of the composition relate to one another Point is to simplify/reduce an image to its elemental forms (shape, colour, line, etc.) There were a variety of ways in which abstract art was explored. Three important movements are Cubism, Futurism, & De Stijl.

5. Therefore, these aren’t abstract art... Emotional RealisticMeaningful

6. and these are abstract art. Cubism Futurism De Stijl Mostly unemotional Mostly not meaningful Geometric shapes

7. Invention of Abstraction: Cubism Subject is broken apart and reassembled in an abstract form, emphasizing geometric shapes Sometimes looks like shattered images (Analytic Cubism) Sometimes looks like combining various synthesized views/aspects of an object, based on collage (Synthetic Cubism) Part representation, part abstraction

8. Reassembled into geometric shapes Multiple views Shattered images

9. Pablo Picasso. Les Desmoiselles D’Avignon. (1907) Oil on canvas. Abstracted/simplified images of female models (common Parisian prostitutes) Considered to be the first painting in “Modern Art”; shatters all conventions Multiple views; i.e. frontal and profile simultaneously seen (no logical perspective) Influence: visual power of African masks Primitivism – idealizes non-Western cultures as being more ideal and less corrupt than Europe Picasso once said it took him many years to learn to draw like children

10. Invention of Abstraction: Futurism Style of painting and sculpture that emerged in Italy in the early 20th century Lots of industrial growth & political chaos (World War I) at this time Emphasized the machine-like quality of “modern” living Often there was a focus on dynamism /“ lines of force ” in objects.

11. Industrial Dynamism

12. Joseph Stella. Brooklyn Bridge. (1918-1920) Oil on canvas. Shows the beauty of this man- made structure Perhaps viewed from a speeding car crossing the bridge Idealized view of city life & the benefits of industrialization

13. Umberto Boccioni. Unique Forms of Continuity in Space. (1913) Bronze. Focused on the “miracles of contemporary life”; the industrial age (i.e. railroads, boats, planes) Tried to “revive” sculpture. This piece is a futuristic Nike of Samothrace.

14. Invention of Abstraction: De Stijl (literally “The Style” in Dutch) A cold & intellectual approach to design begun by Piet Mondrian Developed into a specific non-representational style Complete reliance on design and no feeling/emotion Meant to show precise, mechanical order not existing in nature

15. Just design Non-representational

16. Piet Mondrian. Diagonal Composition. (1921) Oil on canvas. Based on straight lines & squares/rectangles Creates a sense of harmony & order (not existing in the war torn world) Mondrian’s view: vertical lines = vitality, horizontal lines = tranquility, & crossing them creates “dynamic equilibrium” Used only black, white, grey, & primary colours Calculated placement of colours & shapes create asymmetrical balance

17. De Stijl-inspired House

18. Identify abstract art & the movement...

19. Identify De Stijl...

20. Identify abstract art & the movement...