Running head: AMERICAN ART BEFORE AND AFTER WORLD WAR II
American Art Before and After World War II
Student’s name
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AMERICAN ART BEFORE AND AFTER WORLD WAR II
American Art Before and After World War II
The aftermath of the Second World War led to an increased prevalence and
popularization of modern art incidences not only in America but also to several nations across
the globe. During World War II, quite a number of artists played a major role by taking part in
all sorts of activities that heightened the dominance of artistic practice. Consequently, several
groups that were popularly known as movements found their way to America for reasons of
protection, and for the fear of encountering adverse effects of World War II. In view of the
research conducted by Campbell and Kean (2013), a substantial percentage of European artists
considered it the best approach to engage themselves with the upcoming American artists with
a solitary purpose of popularizing the culture of art work. On the same note, absolute adherence
to the latest trends that purports the development of art work was highly sensitized in the
twentieth century, and this led to the conceptualization of the most famous European avantgarde art in the midst of World War II.
According to Doss (2012), majority of artists in America and Europe hypothesized that
after the World War II, the cultures of art shall have been shifted from European to America.
Hence, latest trends in regards to the notion of art painting were introduced. For instance, broad
canvases with considerable height were well painted with all kinds of color for reasons of
promoting the artistic development. Artistic works of the popular Abstract Expressionists were
brought to the limelight for reasons of their positive influence on the social culture of the
humanity. As a result, the modern artistic practice in America embraces the influence of
Abstract Expressionism as a platform for engaging and solving the social and economic cries
since the advent of World War II (Kalb, 2012). Based on this argument, Alfred Stieglitz
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AMERICAN ART BEFORE AND AFTER WORLD WAR II
emerged as the well-known Abstract Expressionist painter who played a major role in the post
–World War II in the United States.
Alfred’s art work was majorly consistent with the advancement of pictorial photography
not only in America but also to aspiring nations all over the world. On the same note, Alfred’s
artistic style was majorly focused on the technologically advanced photography since he had an
interest in championing for the launch of modern art work in America. Alfred’s style of
abstraction was visualized as a popular advancement in the post-World War II since it
advocated for the expansion of the art industry through technological advancement.
Additionally, Alfred’s style of abstraction was perceived to be different from the art works of
the 1930s on the basis that it sensitized on the legitimation and the validation of all artists all
over the world (Doss, 2012). In view of this perception, the cultural perspective of art as a form
of entertainment and education would be translated into a career field where the humanity
would earn a living by being an artist.
In the early 1930s, quite a good number of artists were put to task to determine the
validity of genre and the development of documentary photography for an adequate
understanding of the general public not only in the United States but also to nations all over the
world. On the same note, the conceptualization of the work of art led to the establishment of
numerous museums and art galleries for reasons of tourist attraction and the beauty of America.
This culture was quite predominant in the United States since the humanity championed for
strict adherence to all policies that promoted socio-economic performance of nations. As
observed by Campbell and Kean (2013), the three photographers who advocated for the
instigation of the work of art in America comprised of Berenice Abbott, Walker Evans, and the
famous Bourke-White. For instance the image shown below outlines the legitimacy of Evans
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AMERICAN ART BEFORE AND AFTER WORLD WAR II
Walker work of art. The image clarifies that photography was linked to time and the latest
trends in regards socioeconomic development. Evans’ art work displays the type of
automobiles that was used in the twentieth century for reasons sensitizing the future generation
about the evolution of vehicles and the value it adds to the economy.
Figure 1: Evans Walter art work by Campbell and Kean (2013)
Figure 2: Evans Walter photography (Kirstein, 2012)
The culture of photography was highly promoted in America in the early 1930s during
the launch of the genre of documentary photography and the influence of the great depression.
In a strong sense, the legitimacy of the work of art was ascertained through an exclusive
research on the contemporary events and the value it adds to the lifestyle led by the humanity
(Kirstein, 2012). Fundamentally, while World War II was at its peak, both the national and
international economic performance was under a thorough scrutiny based on the fact that
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AMERICAN ART BEFORE AND AFTER WORLD WAR II
America had the intent of being the winner in Second World War. Besides, America fought the
war with an absolute purpose of promoting the culture and dominance of the work of art. The
heritage was expanded following the expectations of upcoming artists at that point in time. As
observed by Kalb (2012), advances in the development and the transformation of the media
industry positively influenced the culture of art.
As noted by Campbell and Kean (2013), the significant percentage of the American
population could easily access weekly magazines and all kinds of movies produced by cinema
industries in the United States through the establishment of art work. Evidently, the
conceptualization of photography enhanced the authenticity of the contemporary culture. Quite
a number of artistic works were displayed in most novels and newspapers and in the
establishments of shows and exhibitions (Corn, 2011). The advent of photography was
popularized by the famous photographers of the twentieth century. Photographers could touch
on both public and private life on the basis that the approach led to an increased documentation
of most popular works of art. Indeed, the popularization of the work of art in America, and in
the early 1930s established an idealistic platform for self-expression, and for reasons of
boosting the visual culture of art.
Based on the influence of the aforementioned photographers, the development of
documentary photography was highly sensitized. Additionally, the underlying perception of the
novel and literature idea contributed quite significantly to the dominance of artistic work.
Given the description of the type of subjects visualized by the three photographers, it is
apparent that they championed for the transformation of the tourist sector, and particularly
artistic practice. In regards to the perspective of Berenice Abbott, the images below affirm that
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AMERICAN ART BEFORE AND AFTER WORLD WAR II
the advent of photography would establish an idealistic platform for understanding mysteries
behind the mainstream of science and real estate appraisal in the coming years (Kalb, 2012).
Figure 3: Berenice Abbot work of art (Kalb, 2012).
Figure 4: Berenice Abbot; documenting science (Kalb, 2012)
In view of the reliability of the photographic work presented by the three photographers,
it is evident that photography needs to be perceived as a fine art form on the sense that it
educates and boosts the culture of artistic practice in several nations across the globe. In view
of the impact of photography on the American cultural system, the idea of initiating artistic
work has positively influenced the lives of Americans. The introduction of art in the American
culture has resulted in an increased number of institutions offering courses related to artistic
practice (Doss, 2012). As a result, each and every American needs to be accorded an
opportunity to pursue his/her dream based on their passion and interest of being part of the art
industry. Furthermore, the United States has managed to establish several museums for reasons
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AMERICAN ART BEFORE AND AFTER WORLD WAR II
of promoting the tourism industry, and as one of the pillars for evaluating its economic
performance. Based on the Bourke-White art work, philosophical standpoint of photography
would not only be used for historical reference but also as modality for clarifying critical
information to the humanity. The modalities in question could touch on the kind of life style led
by the humanity of the twentieth century. The two images below present some of examples of
Bourke-White art work captured in the twentieth century.
Figure 5: Bourke-White work of art (Kirstein, 2012)
Figure 6: The photography of Bourke (Kirstein, 2012)
In conclusion, the dominance of artistic culture in the lifestyle of Americans have
promoted the economic performance of the United States since the dawn of time. The launch of
abstract expressionism has positively impacted on the social culture of the humanity across the
globe. Evidently, most political and economic cries of the Americans could easily be solved
through the intervention and practice of the work of art. By and large, the advent of
technologically advanced photography encouraged modern art development not only in
America but also in most developed nations all over the world.
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AMERICAN ART BEFORE AND AFTER WORLD WAR II
Reference
Campbell, N., & Kean, A. (2013). American cultural studies: an introduction to American
culture. Routledge.
Corn, W. M. (2011). Coming of Age: Historical Scholarship in American Art.The Art
Bulletin, 70(2), 188-207.
Doss, E. (2012). Twentieth-century American art. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kalb, P. R. (2012). Picturing Pollock: Photography’s Challenge to the Historiography of Abstract
Expressionism. Journal of Art Historiography Number.
Kirstein, L. (2012). Walker Evans: American Photographs. The Museum of Modern Art.
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