Art in America 1900 to 1930’s Marcel Duchamp Pablo Picasso Piet Mondrian Photography as Art Robin DeInnocentiis

Abstract & Modern Art Abstract art was the hallmark of the new century. It was the rendering of images and objects in a stylized or simplified way, yet, still recognizable. Modern art employs all of the different strategies of 20th-century art. It includes Futurism, Dada, Surrealism, and Expressionism. With automobiles dominating the streets, people flying airplanes, Albert Einstein proposing a new theory of relativity, and Niels Bohr’s creation of a new model of the atom, people thought there could be no tradition in the face of so much change.

Futurism In February 1909, an Italian poet named Filippo Marinetti announced a new movement in modern art called Futurism. He called on artists to create “a new beauty, the beauty of speed.” Marcel Duchamp responded to this plea with Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 in 1912. He entered it a year later in the Armory Show.

Armory Show New York City - 1913 The Armory Show was the first exhibition of modern art in America. The exhibit also travelled to Boston and Chicago and over 300,000 people had seen it. Duchamps Nude Descending a Staircase was a scandalous success!

Marcel Duchamp What is Art? In 1917, Marcel Duchamp entered a common urinal signed R. Mutt as a sculpture in the Independents Exhibition and entitled it The Fountain. At first it was rejected, but when Duchamp let it be known that he and R. Mutt were one and the same, it was accepted.

Dada Movement Marcel Duchamp was part of the Dada movement that arose during WWI simultaneously in Zurich, Berlin, Paris, and New York. Dada was against art in the traditional sense of the word. It’s goal was to insult art & outrage people. In 1919, Duchamp accomplished this by drawing a moustache on the lip of Davinci’s Mona Lisa.

Who Does Art Belong To? Dadaists also questioned who owned great works of art. They believed that art belonged to the people, not the museums, therefore, everyone could have a Mona Lisa hanging in their home, painted on a building, or even on their lunchbox! Today, you can walk through any department store and find a masterpiece!

Quote From Nan Rosenthal: The Metropolitan Museum of Art On Marcel Duchamp: “His greatest contribution to the history of art lies in his ability to question, admonish, critique, and playfully ridicule existing norms in order to transcend the status quo—he effectively sanctioned the role of the artist to do just that.”

Surrealism & Expressionism: Pablo Picasso Dada was soon replaced by Surrealism, a combination of dreams and reality, and Expressionism, art that stresses emotional content. Pablo Picasso is considered a forerunner of these artistic styles. Pablo Picasso’s Girl Before a Mirror, 1932

Guernica, Spain - 1937 Guernica, a town of 7,000 people, was bombed by the German Air Force, who were supporting General Francisco Franco, on April 26, 1937. For over 3 hours, it was under attack by 3 squadrons consisting of 33 planes. The sudden strike, known as a blitzkrieg, wiped out 15 square blocks and killed nearly one thousand people. Picasso was outraged by the event and created Guernica for the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris. With the outbreak of WWII, Picasso arranged for the painting to be held in the Museum of Modern Art in New York until Franco’s death. Franco didn’t die until 1975, two years after Picasso’s death. The painting was returned to Spain in 1981. It hangs in the Prado Museum in Madrid.

Guernica - 1937 Pablo Picasso

Piet Mondrian Composition (Blue, Red, and Yellow) - 1933 Influenced by Picasso Emigrated to New York in 1940. Dutch painter relied on horizontal and vertical lines, the 3 primary colors, and black & white. Believed these were “the expression of pure reality.” Believed if he could purify art, he could purify his spirit.

Poster

Mondrian’s Influence

Photography as Art At the Time of the Louisville Flood, 1937 by Margaret Bourke-White

Famous Photography – Cont’d NOAA – A Dust Storm Approaching Spearman, TX, 1935.

Art Quiz What do you think was Marcel Duchamp’s greatest contribution to the world of art? Why did Pablo Picasso feel compelled to paint Guernica? Why did Piet Mondrian simplify his paintings and establish rules for lines and color? What makes a photograph art? Can you identify any cause and effect relationships in art from this period that still effect us today?

Bibliography Google Images: all paintings & pictures A World of Art by Henry Sayre, 4th. Ed. Art History Timeline http://www.ask.com/ Poster-Piet Mondrian http://www.poster.com/rhytmus-1935-42.html

Overview Marcel Duchamp – Questioned, critiqued, and playfully ridiculed existing norms to transcend the “status quo.” He felt it was the artist’s role to do this! Pablo Picasso – Abstract artist who painted with a purpose; to show the pain and injustices of the world. Piet Mondrian – Wanted to purify art in order to purify his soul. Had rules for painting; no curved lines & primary colors only!