Timeline for Modernism
Romantic 1790
I have previously defined this period in my Contextual Research from Pre-Modernism, where I also investigated the work of Turner. Here I will focus on a piece by Francisco de Goya.
I was fortunate to see a vast collection of Goya's work at the Museo Del Prado. He was a Spanish artist who was highly revered by both contemporary and avant-garde artists. He continued to innovate and reinvent his work according to the aesthetic and ethical concerns of the time. His work encompasses a variety of styles, as you note elements of realism, surrealism and expressionism. Some of his earlier works include many portraits and religious studies, which are quite impressive. But his most intriguing work is his last series, called The Black Paintings. They were originally painted on the walls of his country house and were later transferred to canvas.
What the 14 pieces have in common are:
- their dark themes, namely evil, terror, ignorance and death
- the use of exaggerated gesture and attitude
- free and energetic sweeps of the brush
- tense emotion
- stark contrasts of light
Two of my favorites are Saturn and Two Old Men Eating (below).
I was fortunate to see a vast collection of Goya's work at the Museo Del Prado. He was a Spanish artist who was highly revered by both contemporary and avant-garde artists. He continued to innovate and reinvent his work according to the aesthetic and ethical concerns of the time. His work encompasses a variety of styles, as you note elements of realism, surrealism and expressionism. Some of his earlier works include many portraits and religious studies, which are quite impressive. But his most intriguing work is his last series, called The Black Paintings. They were originally painted on the walls of his country house and were later transferred to canvas.
What the 14 pieces have in common are:
- their dark themes, namely evil, terror, ignorance and death
- the use of exaggerated gesture and attitude
- free and energetic sweeps of the brush
- tense emotion
- stark contrasts of light
Two of my favorites are Saturn and Two Old Men Eating (below).
Both these paintings have a clear emotive response. Despite the dark subject matter, there is also a sense humour in their exaggerated expression, as though the figures embrace their descent to madness or death. I like his use of the really dark background. It firstly creates a great contrast to the lighter, earthier paints used above, which makes a wonderful contrast. And secondly it provides an additional metaphor for the figures as it points out their isolation, as though they are stuck in a strange dark void. Having seen the Two Old Men eating on display, the strokes and paint build was most interesting. He was not honed in on specific minutia, but seems to have loaded the brush and applied freely. Textures are not always consistent, and blending is not always of importance, but this is what adds to energy and expression of the subject. |
Pre-Raphaelite 1850
These were a group of English artists - William Homan Hunt, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rosetti and four others, who advocated naturalism (Honour and Fleming, 2009). Part of it was a reaction to the growing modern and industrial trend, but it is also because they believed that Pre-Renaissance artists found a way of depicting natural and unidealized subjects. They still favored the use of moral messages and current social affairs in their art, particularly topics like poverty and prostitution. While Hunt and Millais focused on nature, "Rossetti expanded the Brotherhood’s aims by linking poetry, painting, and social idealism and by interpreting the term Pre-Raphaelite as synonymous with a romanticized medieval past" (Gaunt and Bryson, 2018).
In Lady Lilith we see how Rosetti portrays the female as independent, powerful and with mesmerizing attributes. Quite suitable as this mythological subject is considered the first Femme Fatal or usually associated with one who uses her physical attributes to trap men.
The topic has reference to the Victorian woman of the time learning to gain their independence, but also to their vanity. It also shows some of Rosetti's own challenges in dealing with woman and likely points to his own insecurities in his relationship with them. He has trapped her on the canvas where the male viewer can enjoy gazing at her without any danger (Souter, 2018). The most striking thing about the canvas is the use of light. Particularly on the skin and hair. The composition certainly has retained the romantic flair of the preceding movement, while incorporating the mythology of Gothic and Renaissance art and the current social themes in England. |
Impressionist 1870
The Impressionist movement is characterized by a fascination with light, individual and visible brush strokes, and unrefined surface, the reflection and movement of light, particularly water, as well as a diversity of combinations in colour hues. They looked at a fleeting moment and tried to capture these changes in nature as they eye would experience them. The archetypal Impressionist painting is a landscape or out door subject painted in plein air. It does not rely on tonal contrasts but on small touches of vibrant colour. Most Impressionist artists typically conveyed middle-class visions of care-free happiness. These also included urban night life and the vitality of street cafes, bars and cabarets. The Impressionist Movement brought importance to the materials of paint and how they formed part of the content of a painting.
Post-Impressionist 1890
Post impressionism is a response to the opticality of Impressionism. It encompasses a wide range of artistic styles, but its central idea is that it represents the artist's subjective vision. Painting now longer just represented a glimpse of the world, but also of the artists soul. Paintings became highly symbolic and emotional.
Neo-Impressionism
Around 1880 artists were reacting against Impressionism, and it faced a crisis. They felt that the fleeting nature in which work was capture created limitations. 'Monet, Pissarro and Renoir began to feel that their art had serious shortcomings, not least of which was a lack of solidity, permanence and emotional commitment' (Copplestone, 1983: 311). However Renoir would argue that it allowed for a freedom to create on any subject, without dictation on what to paint. Regardless, artists wanted, once again, for art to be more 'meaningful'. Another dilemma they were faced with was a lack of greater official recognition, as shows were met with little financial success.
Divisionism or Pointillism
In this technique, small strokes or dots of colour are placed next to each and form an image when viewed from a distance. It is mostly associated with its inventor George Seurat and his student Paul Signac. Seurat Called it chromo-luminarism.
Neo-Impressionism
Around 1880 artists were reacting against Impressionism, and it faced a crisis. They felt that the fleeting nature in which work was capture created limitations. 'Monet, Pissarro and Renoir began to feel that their art had serious shortcomings, not least of which was a lack of solidity, permanence and emotional commitment' (Copplestone, 1983: 311). However Renoir would argue that it allowed for a freedom to create on any subject, without dictation on what to paint. Regardless, artists wanted, once again, for art to be more 'meaningful'. Another dilemma they were faced with was a lack of greater official recognition, as shows were met with little financial success.
Divisionism or Pointillism
In this technique, small strokes or dots of colour are placed next to each and form an image when viewed from a distance. It is mostly associated with its inventor George Seurat and his student Paul Signac. Seurat Called it chromo-luminarism.
Expressionist 1910
Die Brücke, that consisted of a group of like minded expressionist painters of which Emil Nolde is the most notable. These artists worked during the pre-First War years and as such they were increasingly concerned with their contemporary psychological situation, showing the world their frustration and resentment of their ways. Gripped with fears about humanity's place in the modern world and its lost feelings of spirituality and authenticity.
Der Blaue Reiter was an expressionist movement where artists, like those of Die Brücke, sought to explore our alienation in an ever increasing modernizing world. Additionally they also pursued the more spiritual value of art. Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc were at the theoretical center of this group which also included Russian artists and other German immigrants. Colour was one of the biggest elements they chose to use in their exploration of the spiritual, in particular the colour blue. they endeavored to represent an abstract representation of form. They are considered the first movement to explore abstract art by looking at the world in a subjective reality.
Of these painters I am mostly drawn to the works of Kirschner.
Der Blaue Reiter was an expressionist movement where artists, like those of Die Brücke, sought to explore our alienation in an ever increasing modernizing world. Additionally they also pursued the more spiritual value of art. Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc were at the theoretical center of this group which also included Russian artists and other German immigrants. Colour was one of the biggest elements they chose to use in their exploration of the spiritual, in particular the colour blue. they endeavored to represent an abstract representation of form. They are considered the first movement to explore abstract art by looking at the world in a subjective reality.
Of these painters I am mostly drawn to the works of Kirschner.
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Kirchner rejected academic styles and drew his inspiration from the modern city and human figure. He preferred depicting the figure in motion, showing the vitality of its form and movement. He favored sharp blocks of colours and flat plains. As with the other artists in this movement he drew inspiration from primitive art forms, in particular the Pacific Islands. In Street, Berlin, he explores the life of the City prostitute. There is an angular and geometric approach to his composition which provides a sense of movement and energy, despite its flatness. The vibrant colours and sullen expressions provide a sense of sensuality. The painting is a commentary on German society pre- Wold War 1, as he believed urban individuals were becoming detached from society. I am drawn to the graphic outlines that form the figures and the unexpected choice of colours used to enhance the contrasts of light and shadow. The use of zig-zag patterns in applying the paint gives it a wonderful sense of movement and energy. |
Fauvist 1915
A group of painters inspired by the works of Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne developed a new style of vibrant colours use, rough handling and unnatural distortions. They were called the Fauves, meaning 'wild beasts'. "In Fauvism we sense a delight in raw sensation, a kind of calculated barbarity that anticipates the earthy dynamism" (Copplestone, 1983:330). This name may have been inspired by the painting The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope by Henri Rousseau. "At the Salon, the painting hung near works by artists that included Henri Matisse and André Derain, and may have prompted one keen-eyed critic to refer to the young painters as 'Fauves' or 'Wild Beasts'." (Ng, 2018)
Cubist 1920
Cubism was a means of questioning figuration and drawing away from traditions. It went on to inspire further abstract movements like Orphism and Constructivism. It can be broken down even further into Facest Cubism and Collage Cubism.
Facet Cubism
This is where everything in the composition is broken into angular facets, whether it be a figure object or background. Unlike the Fauves, the Cubists still explored three-dimensionality by including shadows.
Collage Cubism
As objects and form became more mysterious in Cubist paintings, Picasso and Braque took it another step with the inclusion of pasted on elements like paper and stenciling. Braque in particular had a gift in organizing these overlaps to still show good taste and technique (Honour and Fleming, 2009)
Two particular Cubist works that I find quite beautiful and intriguing are Female Nude (1910) by Picasso and The Portuguese (1911) by Braque. Not surprisingly, the two images have great similarity as these two artists worked closely and are considered the inventors of Cubism.
Facet Cubism
This is where everything in the composition is broken into angular facets, whether it be a figure object or background. Unlike the Fauves, the Cubists still explored three-dimensionality by including shadows.
Collage Cubism
As objects and form became more mysterious in Cubist paintings, Picasso and Braque took it another step with the inclusion of pasted on elements like paper and stenciling. Braque in particular had a gift in organizing these overlaps to still show good taste and technique (Honour and Fleming, 2009)
Two particular Cubist works that I find quite beautiful and intriguing are Female Nude (1910) by Picasso and The Portuguese (1911) by Braque. Not surprisingly, the two images have great similarity as these two artists worked closely and are considered the inventors of Cubism.
The notable similarities in these two paintings are the use of monotone colour palette, the distinctive directional brush strokes and the dark geometric lines.
Though I find this notion of breaking down compositions to their simplest form and the reconstructing them very fascinating, I think trying it out in my own work will be quite challenging.
Though I find this notion of breaking down compositions to their simplest form and the reconstructing them very fascinating, I think trying it out in my own work will be quite challenging.
Surrealist 1925
Led by the poet Andre Breton, their concepts were rooted in psychoanalysis, understanding the unconscious, an influence from the writings of Karl Marx. Many of these artists hoped that their ability to reveal the contradictions of the modern world would help to spark a revolution. Though this movement was less anarchistic than the Dada movement, it used its anti-bourgeois and psychological approach to change the course of Modern Art. Two of the most notorious Surrealist artist were Salvador Dali and Max Ernst and It was their theories of automatism that became the catalyst for Abstract Expressionism. Sigmund Freud is considered one of the great precursors for the Surrealist movement. His psychoanalytical theories regarding the unconscious and erotic can be seen as echoes in many of the Surrealists work, including that of writers, sculptors and painters, often referred to as artistic Freudianism (Honour and Fleming, 2009).
Women and Surrealism
No previous movement had inspired women more to express their individualism as Surrealism did. Even though the art scene was still dominated by men, this movement gave women a voice, elevating their creative abilities and breaking preconceived ideas about the female image. Particularly popular in Mexico and the US, female artists like Frida Kahlo and chose to convey their past experiences, fears, hopes and desires.
Women and Surrealism
No previous movement had inspired women more to express their individualism as Surrealism did. Even though the art scene was still dominated by men, this movement gave women a voice, elevating their creative abilities and breaking preconceived ideas about the female image. Particularly popular in Mexico and the US, female artists like Frida Kahlo and chose to convey their past experiences, fears, hopes and desires.
Frida Kahlo
This Mexican artist made use of visual symbolism to explore and understand pain and suffering. An exploration of self, loss and death. She became an important role model of what it meant to be a woman in a world that was still dominated by men. She paved the way in breaking down gender stereotypes by putting on her canvas issues that were often not discussed, using her own experiences.
This Mexican artist made use of visual symbolism to explore and understand pain and suffering. An exploration of self, loss and death. She became an important role model of what it meant to be a woman in a world that was still dominated by men. She paved the way in breaking down gender stereotypes by putting on her canvas issues that were often not discussed, using her own experiences.
I am not necessarily drawn to surrealism as a style, but what I like about Kahlo's work is that it took on particular societal issues, especially ones faced by woman. Those topic we are often discouraged from talking about. Thinking about that in terms of today's issues, I think there are many topics that can be highlighted and explored. For example:
- body positivity
- social media
- sustainability
- plastic etc.
- body positivity
- social media
- sustainability
- plastic etc.
Bauhaus 1930
This was one of the most influential modern art schools in the 19th and 20th Cenutry. It was started by Walter Gropius who had a vision for uniting Fine Art and Crafts, and that there should be no barriers between art forms, but rather a collaboration. Around the 1920's, along with the influence of Cubism and Industrialization, they too adjusted to acknowledging the machine in the process of creation and in doing so reunited manufacturing with creativity. As a movement is better know for is architectural impact, distinguished by asymmetrical style of clean cut cubic shapes, slab roofs, large windows and a complete absence of ornamentation or moldings. Characteristics that made buildings feel monumental, open and weightless.
works cited
Copplestone, T. (1983) The Macmillan art informer: a guide to the full enjoyment of the fine arts, London, Macmillan.
Gaunt, W. and Bryson J. (2018) Dante Gabriel Rossetti [online] At: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dante-Gabriel-Rossetti (Accessed on 10 September 2018)
Honour, H and Fleming, J. (2009) A world history of art. London: Laurence King Publishing.
Ng, T. (2018) Henri Rousseau Artist Overview and Analysis [online] At: https://www.theartstory.org/artist-rousseau-henri-artworks.htm#pnt_4 (Accessed on 11 September 2018)
Souter, A. (2018) The Pre-Raphaelite Movement [online] At: https://www.theartstory.org/movement-pre-raphaelites-artworks.htm#pnt_1 (Accessed on 11 September 2018)
Gaunt, W. and Bryson J. (2018) Dante Gabriel Rossetti [online] At: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dante-Gabriel-Rossetti (Accessed on 10 September 2018)
Honour, H and Fleming, J. (2009) A world history of art. London: Laurence King Publishing.
Ng, T. (2018) Henri Rousseau Artist Overview and Analysis [online] At: https://www.theartstory.org/artist-rousseau-henri-artworks.htm#pnt_4 (Accessed on 11 September 2018)
Souter, A. (2018) The Pre-Raphaelite Movement [online] At: https://www.theartstory.org/movement-pre-raphaelites-artworks.htm#pnt_1 (Accessed on 11 September 2018)