The Art of the 20th Century The Rise of Modernism
The Beginning of Modern Art in Europe
(Note: many of the images described will need to be viewed by link, due to copy write
restrictions)
As we learned at the end of the study of the previous century, artists began to challenge
tradition in the art world. With the rise of the avant-garde, art was used as a means of
expression and a manner of exploring one’s personal inner vision. This is the basis for
what was to become the Expressionist movement. While the artists we are about to study
were not the starting point for this new exploration, they made it their primary focus.
What was eventually termed “modern art” was often considered socially and politically
radical. This period is known for artists making statements through their work rather
than simply showing a scene.
In order to successfully understand the upcoming styles, one must first understand some
basic principles and terms of color in painting.
Concerning color, the artistic name for color is hue and its lightness or darkness is called
value. When a hue is lightened in value it is called a tint. For example red can be tinted
to a lighter shade which we commonly refer to as pink. How pure or strong a color
appears is referred to as its intensity.
Most people are made aware of mixing colors while they are still children. The most
common system of color mixing was developed by the Prang Corporation. This is the
traditional 12-color, color wheel. In this system there are 3 primary colors (red, yellow
and blue) which are used to mix the remaining 9 colors.
With regard to creating depth in a composition, color temperature helps with the illusion.
These temperatures are of course not actual but associated based on learned
identification. The colors we consider warm are those we typically associate with fire.
While those we identify as cool are associated with ice or water. In creating depth in a
composition, warm colors tend to come forward while cool colors recede. Look at a
landscape. As objects get further in the distance notice how much more lavender and
blue become present and how much less brown and other warm colors are visible. In
addition to the use of color temperature, an artist needs to be aware that the intensity of
1
colors typically diminishes as the distance increases. This is just one of a number of ways
an artist can create the illusion of depth in a piece. (See the example below)
Kohala Coast, Big Island Hawaii.
While the official Salon was still held in France, many artists operated outside the
parameters of what was considered traditional. In 1903 a group of these avant-garde
artists organize what was to be called the Salon d’ Automne (Autumn Salon). This show
operated in opposition to the traditional event, which was a spring event. In the exhibit of
1905, the appearance of a new, visually striking style appeared. Among the artists
working in this style was Henri Matisse (1869-1954), the driving force behind the
movement and George Rouault (1871-1958). Their work had lively patterns, rich
textures, with explosive, clashing color and loose, coarse brushwork. One critic described
the painters as fauves (wild beasts). Fauve artists’ goal was not to try to duplicate an
object but, rather, push the boundary of color and paint. A subject not common to the
avant-garde art world was religious scenes.
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/matisse/
A friend of Matisse, Pablo Picasso also experimented with non-traditional approaches to
painting. Unlike Matisse however, Picasso worked less from nature than Matisse.
One of the other driving forces behind the Fauve movement was Matisse’s contemporary,
George Rouault. At a young age Rouault apprenticed as a glass painter and restorer,
2
which accounts for his strong saturated color with heavy outlines. Rouault differed from
most other Fauve painters in that he depicted social and political forces that “crush the
spirit. His scenes often included universally “tragic” figures such as clowns, prostitutes
and actors. Again unlike other artists of the avant-garde movement, Rouault occasionally
painted religious figures.
http://wikilivres.info/wiki/Georges_Rouault
German Expressionism
As artists in Paris worked to recreate the world of art, a group of artists worked in
Dresden Germany to form Die Brücke (The Bridge). They took their name from the
writing of Friedrich Nietzsche, where he described the potential of humanity as a
“bridge” to a more perfect humanity in the future by bridging old and new. (Stockstad,
Cothren, Art History 4th edition). The group formed in 1905 with four original members and
lasted until 1913. The artists hoped the group would be a place for all to collectively
gather in opposition to Germany’s “pale, overbred and decadent”. Their work was often
brutal in an attempt to depict contemporary conditions in Germany. Many of their scenes
depicted nudity since it was trendy in German art during this time.
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Berlin Street Scene, 1913.
3
Another German group of this period was Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider). The group
formed in 1911 in Munich. Its two founders were Franz Marc (1880-1916) and Vassily
Kandinsky (1866-1944). The two selected their name from their interest in the color blue
and horses. Their goal was to capture their feelings in painting.
Kandinsky was born in Russia and moved to Munich in the middle of the 1890’s. While
he was one of the founders of The Blue Rider Group, he soon began to experiment with
visual imagery well beyond the group. His work was among the first to experiment with
complete abstraction. Kandinsky was a very well read individual, whose interests were
broad and included: Religion, history, philosophy, science and physics as well as music.
Vassily Kandinsky, Yellow, Blue, Red, 1925.
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/kandinsky/
The other founding member of The blue Rider, Franz Marc was much like many of the
other German Expressionists of the time with his pessimistic views of humanity.
Remember, WWI was about to explode on the world scene. Marc explored the ties
between color and emotions. Because of his views on humanity, Marc often chose to
paint animals because he felt they were “more beautiful, more pure” than people. In
many of his scenes he used dramatic angles and color to create an emotional response
4
from the viewer. Often the animals in his paintings appear to be victims of cataclysmic
events. Ironically, the very humanity for which he showed contempt in his art resulted in
his death in 1916 when he was killed in WWI.
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/marc/
Franz Marc, The Lamb, 1913-14.
Early 20th Century Sculpture
Early 20th century sculptors followed the same basic direction as many of the painters of
the same time. Their focus was no longer literal depiction of subject-matter but, rather,
expressiveness through the use of various design elements. An emotional response to
their work was their overall goal. Forms were often simplified and stylized. As in the
case of Jacques Lipchitz (1891-1973), forms were explored in fragmented planes, in what
would become known as Analytical Cubism. Because of the German occupation of
France during World War II, Lipchitz, being Jewish, had to flee France. With the help of
an American journalist, he escaped to the United States where he eventually settled in
New York.
The University of Arizona has a collection of Lipchitz work in their permanent
collection. The images below are from that collection.
5
Jacques Lipchitz, The Bather (Large) 1922-23. Plaster (painted to simulate bronze).
University of Arizona Museum of Art.
Jacques Lipchitz, Lesson of a Disaster, 1961-70. Bronze. U of A Museum of Art.
6
http://www.google.com/search?q=jacques+Lipchitz&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IESearchBox&oe=&um=1&ie=UTF8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1680&bih=845
Cubism
Cubism brought about a radical change in the evolution of art. The style was the creation
of two artists, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) and George Braque (1882-1963). Their work
rejected the realistic depictions of subject-matter, which had been the goal of artists for
many centuries, in favor of an analysis of forms based on planes and geometric shapes,
much like the work of Paul Cézanne. Early Cubism, often called Analytic Cubism,
because of its investigation of the visual elements of objects, avoided the use of bright
colors. The style is said to have gotten its name from Henri Matisse, who described it as
“little cubes”. As Cubism evolved, artists began to experiment with other media in their
compositions. Objects cut from paper and fabric, in a technique called collage (to stick)
was often applied to the compositions. This was a technique pioneered by Braque and
Picasso.
Picasso was born in 1881 in Málaga, Spain. At an early age, he showed a great deal of
talent as an artist. Enrolled in the National Academy in Madrid, Picasso quickly
mastered all of the techniques of the Realist style. However he had a restless nature and
in 1899 moved to Barcelona, where he was exposed to the new styles of the avant-garde.
After the suicide of a close friend, Picasso began to paint scenes that would become
known as his “Blue Period”, which reflected his depressed or melancholy state during
this time. His work during this time often showed the downtrodden of society. Below is
an excellent interactive site showing works from Picasso’s Blue Period.
http://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/picasso.html
Many elements of society and events in history were the inspiration for Picasso’s subjectmatter. An example of cultural elements which had an effect on his work was African
and Iberian sculpture, which had a very stylized approach to capturing the human form.
Inspired by these art-forms, he painted what would eventually become one of his more
well-known works, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, 1907 (The young ladies of Avignon).
The scene depicts women in the red light district (Avignon Street) in Barcelona. This
piece is often credited with being the launch pad for his and Braque’s explorations into
Cubism in 1908.
7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Les_Demoiselles_d%27Avignon.jpg
A historical event which inspired a response in painting from Picasso took place April 26,
1937, when Nazi Germany bombed the city of Guernica, Spain. This event took place
during the Spanish Civil War and not only decimated the city, but also killed and
wounded around 7,000 people. In this large scale canvas, Picasso depicts the violence
and pain inflicted by the bombing. The following website shows the image of Picasso’s
Guernica as well as a newspaper article with eyewitness accounts of the air assault.
http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/art/picasso-guernica.htm
Georges Braque (1882-1963), Picasso’s cohort in the creation of Cubism was known for
his use of earth-tones and highly stylized scenes in his work. Like Picasso, Braque was
influenced by the Fauve movement. In his work, his goal was to show scenes from
multiple views at one time, which gave the feel of moving around within the 2-D scene.
Below is a link to the life and images of Braque.
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/B/braque.html
An American artist who worked in a form of Synthetic Cubism which incorporated
package design, which he considered progressive, along with the fast pace of American
life was Stuart Davis (1894-1964). In his work he utilized the concept from Cubism of
showing items from multiple angles in rhythmic arrangement, much like that of
American Jazz which was popular and modern. Unlike Synthetic Cubism, however, he
painted the forms rather than gluing them on the canvas. Davis was a heavy smoker and
found the clean lines of tobacco package design as the inspiration of his work.
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/davis/
The Machine Age in Art
In 1918, a group was formed by Fernand Leger (1881-1955) in opposition to Cubism.
According to the views of this movement, Cubism was out of touch with the machine age
and was simply a form of decorative art. This movement, called Purism, used the clean
functional lines of machines, and the “pure” forms of their parts to guide the artist. Leger
incorporated the forms of the mechanized society into scenes with the commotion of
modern cities to create a modern busy feel in his work.
8
Fernand Leger, The City, 1919. Oil on canvas, 7’7” X 9’9 ½”. Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The Art of the Absurd
An art Movement which was a result of and a reaction against WWI was a style called
Dada. The primary force behind this movement was an artist named Marcel Duchamp
(1887-1968). This movement was active in New York, Berlin and Paris and was a
reflection of the artists’ view of the absurdity and atrocities of WWI. It rejected all
preexisting art both modern and traditional as well at the techniques applied to it. In
1913 Duchamp displayed his “ready Made” sculptures. These were sculptures made
from mass produced, usually functional objects from everyday life. Many of these
arrangements were a combination of parts from several objects.
9
Marcel Duchamp, Fountain.
Duchamp also painted. One of his works depicts a stylized nude figure, much like those
done by Cubists. The piece is done in such a way as to show the sequential movement of
the figure through the space. The piece called Nude Descending a Staircase, was the
focus of hostile attacks by art critics. One critic described the piece as “an explosion in a
shingle factory.” Below is an interactive website which shows Duchamp’s work and
explains his concepts.
http://www.understandingduchamp.com/
Synthetic Cubism applied to African-American Culture
Aaron Douglas (1898-1979) was an African-American artist who developed his own
version of Synthetic Cubism which he used to represent the history and culture of
African-Americans. Douglas was born in Kansas, but after studying in various locations
including Paris, he settled in New York City. In New York he became part of the 1920’s
movement called the Harlem Renaissance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_Renaissance
10
Douglas came to value the rich imagery and history of his culture and incorporated it into
his paintings. His work is recognizable by its transparent angular planes and soft pastel
colors depicting cultural scenes.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/arts/douglas.html
A uniquely American style which never evolved into a completely organized movement,
but rather, several artists painting with the same theme individually was Precisionism. A
trend which started in the 1920’s, Precisionism focused on the importance of machinery’s
importance in everyday life. Even though European artists had worked in this theme,
Americans found its impact even more important than their counterparts in Europe. They
tried to depict the modernization of America during this age of machinery.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precisionism
Charles Demuth, Aucassin and Nicolette. Oil on canvas 1921.
The Precisionist focus involved a variety of artists. One with a lasting impact in the art
world had a huge effect beyond her Precisionist beginnings. This was Georgia O’Keefe
(1887-1986). Her work changed drastically throughout her career. In her early career
11
during the 1920’s she moved to New York City from the small town of Canyon, Texas.
During one of her visits before moving to New York, she met Alfred Stieglitz who was a
photographer and owned a gallery. Stieglitz encouraged her to pursue her art and
arranged shows to highlight her work. Eventually the two were married. Much of her
work from this period focused on the fast paced life of the city, with its soaring sky
scrapers and traffic.
Over time, O’Keefe made trips from New York to New Mexico, where she became
enamored with the raw beauty of the landscapes. Eventually she moved permanently to
an area near Santa Fe where her work focused on the elements of the surrounding high
desert area. Of the many works she created during her career, it is the work created in
New Mexico for which she is most well-known. Her work is semi-abstract and very
stylized and for subject-matter, includes things like animal bones, flowers and the
landscape itself.
http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/her-art.html
Representing Positive and Negative Space
Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898 –1972) was a Dutch graphic artist known for his
compositions in which he morphed arrangements of positive and negative spaces to
create new forms. These creations were often mathematically based. Many of his
designs created impossible constructions which fuel the imagination. His arrangements
are often categorized as tessellations, which are interlocking forms much like a
honeycomb. Escher worked in many different media including woodcuts, lithographs,
paintings and drawings. Below is the official M.C. Escher website. Because he produced
such a huge body of work it is classified chronologically. This link will take you to his
more symmetrical designs, but you can look at the picture gallery for other works.
http://www.mcescher.com/
Representing Dreams
As the Dada movement faded most of the artists from that trend joined the Surrealist
movement in order to express, in art, a view that depicted the world of dreams and the
unconscious mind. This movement was inspired by the work of Sigmund Freud. Several
of the artists viewed the art of Hieronymus Bosch as their inspiration for their depictions.
As you might recall, Bosch was the 15th century Dutch painter who painted The Garden
of Earthly Delights. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Garden_of_Earthly_Delights
12
Within the Surrealist movement there were two groups. The first group, the Biomorphic
Surrealists, painted mostly abstract scenes, which might occasionally resemble
organisms and natural forms. The second group, the Naturalistic Surrealists focused on
scenes which metamorposized into a dream or nightmarish scene.
One of the most well-known of all Surrealist painters was Salvador Dali (1904-1989).
Dali was known for his eccentric personality. Aside from his colorful lifestyle, his
painting style was extraordinary and set the tone for the Surrealist movement. Of the
many pieces he created, one stands as the image most recognized by the general public.
This piece is called, The Persistence of Memory, 1931. This piece is a small tightly
painted oil which depicts several pocket watches draped over objects such as a branch
and captures a dream-like quality. The humanoid figure central in the piece is said to
have been inspired by the work of Bosch.
http://www.dali-gallery.com/html/dali.php
A female Mexican artist named Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was part of the Surrealist
movement. Her work is often classified as Naturalistic Surrealism, which Kahlo didn’t
apply to herself but was attached to her by others. As a young girl, Kahlo was involved
in a terrible accident on a city bus, which caused her great pain throughout her life.
During her recovery she took up painting. As her talent grew, she eventually gained the
attention of the much older and already famous mural painter, Diego Rivera. Eventually
the two became romantically involved and the result was a turbulent marriage.
Kahlo’s work often used the emotional and physical pain she had suffered as subjectmatter for her painting. In her work, Kahlo often depicts herself in traditional Mexican
attire and cultivates her imperfections such as her unibrow and slight facial hair. This
appearance adds to the mystique of her work.
http://www.pbs.org/weta/fridakahlo/worksofart/index.html
Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was a Russian born artists who worked in many different
media including painting, book illustrations, stained glass, stage sets, ceramics, tapestries
and fine art prints. His work was associated with several different styles of the various
Modernist movement including Expressionism, Cubism and Fauvism. Inspiration for his
work was often drawn from his early childhood years in the small village of Vitebsk.
Many scenes depict light hearted, happy village scenes while others depict the despair of
Jewish discrimination. Chagall experienced such discrimination as a child, as Jewish
children were not allowed to attend traditional Russian schools. Chagall moved from
Russia to France and eventually, during the Nazi occupation of France on to America.
13
http://www.chagallpaintings.org/biography.html
http://www.google.com/search?q=marc+chagall&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IESearchBox&oe=&um=1&ie=UTF8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1680&bih=845
The Style
In 1917 a group of artists from Holland founded a movement known as The Style or De
Stijl, also known as neoplasticism. The group was led by Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) and
Theo van Doesburg (1883-1931). They believed in the birth of a new age, and a new
utopian society with spiritual harmony and order, after the end of WWI. In this modern
machine age an environment with ease of living, rather than the struggles of day to day
survival caused by hard physical labor would be possible.
Mondrian was best known for his non-representational “compositions”. In these
compositions he generally used primary colors plus black and white, arranged in
horizontal and vertical placement.
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/mondrian/
The style known as Art Deco was a style which flourished during the 1920’s and 30’s. It
was an international movement which affected decorative art forms including
architecture. Such utilitarian objects as tea pots, silverware and even automobile design
were impacted by this movement. Its drive was to upgrade industrial design and add the
flair associated with the jazz age, to every-day objects. This was done through its use of
simple flat shapes and hard edged patterns.
In New York City a prime example of this style can be seen in the Chrysler building.
This structure is recognizable by its chrome exterior. For a brief period of time it held
the title as the world’s tallest building, until it was surpassed by the Empire State
Building. The upper portion of its exterior is clad in chrome plated metal and many of its
features are based on Chrysler automobile elements such as hood ornaments and hub
caps. Its interior is also a good example of the Art Deco style in its clean linear design.
14
Above: The Chrysler Building viewed from the Empire State Building.
15
Automobiles designed during the Art Deco Period.
16
Doors of the Cochise County Courthouse. Bisbee, Ariz.
Even such structures as Hoover Dam (pictured above) were built using the Art Deco
Style.
17
Sculpture on Hoover Dam
18
Early 20th century architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) played a major role in the
evolution of Modernism in building styles. Wright was born in Wisconsin where he
spent time working on farms and developed a bond with nature which he incorporated
into his architecture.
One of the most recognized creations by Wright was the Edgar Kaufmann House (Falling
Water) in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. This structure includes a waterfall which runs under
the house and collects in a pool below. A large bolder was incorporated into the interior
as a hearth. The structure features a large overhanging cantilever balcony which allows a
clear view of the stream.
Frank Lloyd Wright, Kaufmann House, Falling Water, Mill Run, Pennsylvania. 1937.
Wright also designed many large public structures such as the Guggenheim Museum in
New York, and Grady Gammage Auditorium in Tempe, Arizona.
19
Frank Lloyd Wright, Grady Gammage Auditorium, Tempe, AZ.
Taliesin West was Wrights winter home and school which he had constructed in
Scottsdale, Arizona 1937 and used until his death at age 91.
Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin West, Scottsdale, AZ
20
Rural Life in America
The group of painters often referred to as American Scene Painters chose to paint the
rural life of America. These painters felt that rural life, rather than city life was the
backbone of American society. A painter who gained notoriety in this style of work was
Grant Wood. Wood began his career in the military, where he painted camouflage. This
stylistic pattern is often evident in his landscape scenes. Most of Wood’s work show
scenes from the Mid-West. Of all his work, the most commonly recognized piece is
called American Gothic. The scene is so named because of the Gothic style window in
the farm house behind the farmer and his daughter.
Grant Wood, American Gothic, 1930. Oil 2’6” X 2’8”. Art Institute of Chicago.
Postmodernism
The downfall of Modernism was, ironically due to the artists pushing the boundaries of
what was considered art. Eventually a widespread cultural phenomenon evolved. It has
been described as a movement which had something for every taste. Artists during this
21
period worked in many styles including splattered paint, large broad areas of color, and
even cartoon scenes enlarged to a grand scale.
A painter during this period who gained recognition for his work in which shapes of
broad, bold color separated by thin pin striping was Frank Stella (b. 1936-). Stella’s work
was simply for the sake of beauty and held no expressive message.
http://www.theartstory.org/artist-stella-frank.htm
During the Post-Modern era, a movement evolved, characterized by reduction form to its
primary structure. It was a style called Minimalism. This movement involved not only
painting, but more often, sculpture. A public work done in the Minimalist style is the
Vietnam Memorial Wall. This monument was done by Maya Ying Lin (b. 1960). Lin
won a commission for the memorial with her submission in which a highly reflective
black granite wall was erected in a “V” form; it includes the names of the 57,937
American casualties of war. Its simple form creates a somber introspective environment.
Maya Ying Lin, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., 1981-83. Black Granite,
Each side is 246’ long.
22
23
Louise Nevelson (1800-1988) was an American sculptor, born in Russian. Her style
combined several movements into one. Such styles as Dada and Surrealism were the
driving influences behind the evolution of her unique creations. Her work makes use of
found objects combined in assemblages which were often compartmentalized into
segments, then painted in a monochromatic color scheme such as gold, black or white.
http://www.louisenevelsonfoundation.org/exhibitions.php
During the 1950’s Pop Art or Popular Art evolved. It was based on everyday items found
in contemporary society.
One Pop Artist who focused on comic books for his subject matter was Roy Lichtenstein.
His work made use of the melodramatic scenes popular in comic books. Comic books
were very popular and inexpensive during the 1950’s and 60’s. In style, his work was
identifiable by the benday dots which are visible in the printing process used in comic
books and newspapers.
Roy Lichtenstein, House I 1996-98. Painted Aluminum.
24
Perhaps the best known of all Pop Artists was Andy Warhol (1928-1987). Warhol was a
successful commercial artist/illustrator before pursuing a career in fine art. As a fine
artist, Warhol chose as his subject, mass produced objects of the contemporary consumer
world. Objects such as Coke Bottles, Campbell Soup Cans and other consumer
containers were shown repetitively in his compositions. His use of the printing technique
serigraphy or silk-screening allowed him to mass produce his work in an assembly line
like fashion.
Warhol was continually surrounded by the celebrities of the time. Actors, artists and
musicians frequented his studio called “the factory”. Often he depicted images of these
celebrities. Examples of these are found in his series prints of John Lennon, Elizabeth
Taylor and Mick Jagger. One celebrity he chose as a subject was Norma Jean Baker or
Marilyn Monroe. After her death, he created images of her in series. In his composition,
he chose garish colors to show the celebrity the public knew, rather than the real Norma
Jean.
Because of the age of mass media, Warhol became famous for the saying everyone would
become famous for fifteen minutes.
http://www.warholprints.com/Image.Gallery.html
Graffiti Becomes Mainstream
A New York graffiti artist who achieved public attention while painting anonymously in
the subways of New York City was Keith Haring (1958-1990). His work is easily
recognizable for its hieroglyphic like style.
Haring was born and raised in Pennsylvania, where he spent countless hours drawing and
cartooning. Upon completing high school, he enrolled in college to study commercial art,
but after two semesters realized he was not interested in becoming a commercial artist, so
he dropped out of school. He continued to study art on his own and displayed his work
in various shows. Eventually that same year, he moved to New York City where he
enrolled in the School of Visual Arts. While attending school, he was enamored with the
thriving underground/alternative art movement. Eventually Haring found his niche in
the graffiti art world of the New York Subway System. His work gained popularity and
was eventually was shown in galleries and private collections.
Haring also participated in various public awareness drives such as AIDS awareness and
anti-crack campaigns.
25
In 1990, at age 31, Haring died of AIDS related complications.
http://www.picsearch.com/pictures/celebrities/artists%20and%20painters/artists%202/kei
th%20haring.html
During the 1960’s a style of art which had been produced for decades was given the name
Op Art or Optical Art. This name was coined because of the optical illusions created by
the precisely drafted patterns creating the illusion of movement and depth in the picture
plane. During the 1930’s Victor Vasarely (1906-1997) created compositions utilizing
precisely placed lines and shapes which appeared to have form and depth. Because of his
early experimentation with various techniques to create optical effects, he is considered
the father of Op Art. Following is a link to a Vasarley website. It is arranged by period
and style during his career.
http://www.masterworksfineart.com/inventory/vasarely/vasarely.php
An English artist working within the Op Art movement was Bridget Riley (b.1931).
Riley often created images which cause an uncomfortable feeling for the viewers. This
appearance is created through the precise placement and organization of thick and thin
lines which develop “movement” in the composition. Many of her pieces also use
organized shapes which create the illusion of warp or depth in the 2-d surface.
http://www.karinsanders.com/bridgetriley.htm
Representation with extreme accuracy
In the 1960’s and 70’s a movement which made use of photographic images as references
to create paintings with extreme detail and accuracy began to gain ground in the United
States. This movement was called Photorealism, because of its photographic accuracy.
By the end of the 20th century, this movement expanded outside of the United States and
gained popularity among many other nations. Japanese artists became well known for
their dynamic compositions, often showing fantasy scenes in photographic clarity and
attention to detail. This style evolved beyond its original beginnings and eventually
became known as super-realism.
An American Pioneer in this movement was a female artist named Audrey Flack
(b.1931). In one of Flack’s most well-known pieces, Marilyn, she utilized many items to
create a composition pertaining to Marilyn Monroe. In the piece, she used traditional
reference, much like early Dutch paintings, to refer to the mortality of the individual.
Items like a watch, a burning candle, a calendar and an hourglass all add to the reference
26
of time passing. As with most Super-realist artists, Flack painted the piece using an airbrush, which lends itself to creating smooth shading and life-like form.
Audrey Flack, Marilyn, 1977. Oil over acrylic on canvas, 8’X8’. University of Arizona
Art Museum. Detail Below.
27
The Super-realist style evolved to the point that today it is difficult to tell a painting from
a true photograph. Dru Blair is a contemporary artist who exemplifies todays Superrealist style.
http://www.drublair.com/this-is-not-a-photo.html
28