Mid Modern Era: Abstract Expressionism

 There were many different art styles emerged during the mid modern era, and Abstract Expressionism was clearly one of them. Abstract Expressionism developed in the context of diverse overlapping sources and inspirations. The crisis of World War II and its aftermath are the key to understanding the concerns of the Abstract Expressionists. Many young artists, troubled by man's dark side and anxiously aware of human irrationality and vulnerability, wanted to express their concerns in a new art of meaning and substance.

     Jackson Pollock, Autumn Rhythm (Number 30), 1950

    Jackson Pollock, Mural, 1943

Jackson Pollock

Abstract Expressionist painter Jackson Pollock was one of the leading figures addressing issues of angst and anxiety, which were prevalent in the post-World War II era. His famous painting, "Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)," was created in his studio—a small barn behind his house in East Hampton. This period marked a high point in modern art, as artists began to move away from representing nature, which had been central to art-making for centuries. Pollock was interested in creating purely abstract forms. He used house paint, allowing it to seep into and stain the canvas rather than merely applying it to the surface. His work includes splashes that resemble dots and others that evoke the feeling of a night sky.

Another magnificent piece by Pollock is the "Mural." He painted this while working as a janitor and handyman at the Museum of Non-Objective Art. It was during this time that Peggy Guggenheim recognized his talent and introduced him to the art patron who would later champion his career. In this work, Pollock employed his signature drip technique, placing the canvas flat on the studio floor while flicking paint in what appeared to be a haphazard manner. However, the drips always flowed downward, suggesting that the canvas was initially standing upright. He regarded this painting as a moment of liberation, pushing beyond the restrictive traditions of easel painting.

            Mark Rothko, No. 210/No. 211 (Orange), 1960

            Mark Rothko, No. 3/No.13, 1949

Mark Rothko

Another significant abstract expressionist painter from the mid-modern era was Mark Rothko. Rothko created the famous painting No. 210/No. 211 (Orange) in 1960, influenced by the postwar period when society faced fundamental questions, particularly in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the introduction of atomic weaponry. He contemplated how one could connect with the spiritual in our modern age. The painting features essentially two colors—orange and dark purple—but each of these colors contains infinite variations. There are numerous shades of yellows and oranges within those spaces, and the purple acts both as a space that the orange can occupy and also as a kind of frame. The result is a seemingly endless set of variations.

Another remarkable masterpiece by Rothko is No. 3/No. 13 (Magenta, Black, Green on Orange) from 1949. This work follows a compositional structure that Rothko explored for 23 years. It features narrowly separated, rectangular blocks of color that hover in a column against a colored background. The edges tend to fade and blur; the colors are never entirely flat. The slight unevenness in their intensity, along with the layering of washes, creates ambiguity, shifting between solidity and intangible depth. Through his work, Rothko clearly expresses basic human emotions such as tragedy, ecstasy, and doom.

       Helen Frankenthaler, The Bay, 1963

       Helen Frankenthaler, Mountains and Sea, 1952
 

Helen Frankenthaler

Inspired by Jackson Pollock, another notable abstract expressionist painter who emerged during the mid-modern era was Helen Frankenthaler. When she painted "The Bay" in 1963, she was already a well-regarded artist. This painting was selected as one of the works for the American pavilion at the 1966 Venice Biennale. Frankenthaler's approach involved a soak-stain method using diluted acrylic paint. This technique provided her with more flexibility in viscosity and movement than oils, allowing her greater control as she poured the thinned paint onto the taut, unprimed canvas, where it would become absorbed into the fabric's weave.

Another remarkable painting by Frankenthaler is "Mountains and Sea," created in 1952. This work exemplifies the staining process, in which an artist pours thinned paint onto raw, unprimed canvas. The result is fields of transparent color that appear to float in space, with the canvas weave establishing the image's flatness. Frankenthaler's art emerged in the aftermath of World War II, which prompted a significant shift in American social consciousness toward abstraction.

For a long time, I didn’t truly appreciate abstract paintings until this moment. It helped me realize how to search for the emotions I was looking for when gazing at these artworks. If given the opportunity, I would love to own "Mural" by Jackson Pollock. I adore the colors and shapes incorporated into that painting; somehow, it speaks to me in a deeply emotional way.

Biography

 Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker, "Jackson Pollock, Autumn Rhythm," in Smarthistory, December 3, 2020, accessed November 10, 2024, https://smarthistory.org/autumn-rhythm/.

 Katrina Klaasmeyer, "Jackson Pollock, Mural," in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015, accessed November 10, 2024, https://smarthistory.org/jackson-pollock-mural/.

Dr. Margaret C. Conrads and Dr. Steven Zucker, "Mark Rothko, No. 210/No. 211 (Orange), 1960," in Smarthistory, April 6, 2017, accessed November 10, 2024, https://smarthistory.org/rothko-orange/

 Farisa Khalid, "Helen Frankenthaler, The Bay," in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015, accessed November 10, 2024, https://smarthistory.org/frankenthaler-the-bay/.

Mountains and Sea, Frankenthaler, www.nga.gov/audio-video/audio/collection-highlights-east-building-english/mountains-and-sea-frankenthaler.html. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

Paul, Stella. “Abstract Expressionism: Essay: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.” The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 1 Oct. 2004, https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/abex/hd_abex.htm

Rothko, Mark. “No.3/No.13 (Magenta, Black, Green on Orange), 1949 - Mark Rothko.” Www.Wikiart.Org, 1 Jan. 1970, https://www.wikiart.org/en/mark-rothko/no-3-no-13

             

        

    

Early Modern Era - World War I

 The early modern era was profoundly shaped by World War I, with countless artists directly experiencing combat as soldiers, medics, or war artists capturing the realities at the front. These influential figures produced powerful works either during the conflict or inspired by their firsthand accounts of battle. Artists relentlessly sought a fitting language to articulate the chaos and devastation unleashed by modern industrial warfare. They decisively reevaluated their subject matter, techniques, materials, and styles, as well as their roles and responsibilities as cultural producers.

      Meet Oppenheim, Object, 1936

Meret Oppenheim

One of the most intriguing figures of the early modern era is Meret Oppenheim, a prominent Surrealist artist whose work left a lasting impact on the art world. Oppenheim's journey into the realm of Surrealism began at a remarkably young age, as she immersed herself in the vibrant artistic community of Paris. It was during a fateful moment in 1936 that she conceived her iconic piece, "Object." This inspiration arose while she was seated in a charming Parisian café alongside the renowned artist Pablo Picasso and the captivating Dora Maar. As they engaged in conversation, the trio admired a striking metal bracelet, uniquely adorned with soft, luxurious fur, which Oppenheim happened to be wearing. In a moment of playful creativity, Picasso suggested that anything could be cloaked in fur, sparking Oppenheim's imagination.

The resulting artwork, "Object," quickly ascended to fame for its bold and imaginative exploration of contrasting elements. It exemplifies the Surrealist intention to challenge societal norms by forcibly juxtaposing objects that appear incompatible, thereby dismantling the viewer's sense of reality. The visceral imagery invoked by this piece is particularly striking; the sensation of damp, warm fur brushing against one’s tongue and lips, along with the unsettling vision of liquid flowing over the fur, elicits an immediate feeling of discomfort and repulsion. This art encapsulates the profound conflict between the conscious mind and the depths of the unconscious, offering a window into the psychological tensions that define human experience. Furthermore, the unsettling nature of the piece resonates deeply with the historical trauma of World War I, reflecting the tumultuous emotions of the time. Given its significant thematic depth and innovative composition, "Object" deserves a prominent place in a museum committed to showcasing the complexities and nuances of Surrealist art, where it can continue to engage and provoke thought among audiences.

\

      Marcel Duchamp, The Large Glass, 1915

Marcel Duchamp

Another notable artists who emerged during the early modern era and was profoundly influenced by the events surrounding World War I is Marcel Duchamp. In 1915, while residing in New York, he embarked on the creation of his groundbreaking artwork known as "The Large Glass" (officially titled "The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even"). This piece, which he left unfinished—an aspect he later emphasized when he declared it "genitively unfinished" in 1923—stands out for its innovative approach to art.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Duchamp did not adhere to the traditional norms of formal abstraction characterized by geometric shapes and lines. Instead, he pursued what he referred to as an abstraction of ideas. Through "The Large Glass," Duchamp sought to explore the complexities of human perception and desire, delving into the often absurd mental landscapes that accompany these experiences. This exploration was particularly poignant given the tumultuous backdrop of World War I, a conflict that claimed millions of lives and left lasting scars on societies around the globe.

Duchamp’s work serves as a reflection on humanity’s impulse to impose rationality on chaotic and irrational experiences, notably human desire—an endeavor that can be perilous, especially during times of war. The societal upheaval caused by the war profoundly influenced many artists of the period, including those involved in the Dadaist movement. This avant-garde movement arose as a direct response to the senseless violence and destruction of the war, critiquing the very art institutions that were seen to perpetuate the ideologies leading to such conflict. "The Large Glass" not only exemplifies Duchamp’s unique artistic vision but also encapsulates the spirit of Dadaism as it challenged traditional artistic conventions and questioned the role of art in a world fraught with instability and absurdity.

                               Francis Picabia, Ideal, 1915

Francis Picabia

Francis Picabia's artwork "Ideal," created in 1915, draws inspiration from his fascination with technical manuals and diagrams, showcasing his deep appreciation for the advancements of the mechanical age. During this period, Picabia was residing in New York, where he engaged in a clandestine wartime mission to acquire supplies across the Americas, cleverly disguising his intentions as an artistic pursuit. 

In "Ideal," Picabia utilizes the concept of machinery as a metaphorical framework to explore the rapid changes and new sensations that defined modernity. His artwork features unconventional combinations of machine parts, which not only celebrate human creativity and invention but also highlight the inherent flaws and limitations of these innovations. This duality is particularly poignant against the backdrop of World War I, a conflict that saw the unprecedented deployment of new technologies, fundamentally transforming the nature of warfare on a global scale.

The themes present in "Ideal" make it an exceptional candidate for display in a machinery or factory museum. The artwork embodies the spirit of the time, encapsulating both the awe of technological progress and the sobering realization of its consequences in human conflict. Through Picabia's unique perspective, viewers are invited to reflect on the complex relationship between humans and the machines they create, a dialogue that remains relevant in today's world.

Each of these artworks possesses a unique beauty, rich in both meaning and history. However, the piece created by Marcel Duchamp stands out to me as the ideal artwork to display in my home. Whenever I gaze upon this particular piece, I am struck by the palpable tension that captures the emotions and turmoil of the First World War. It evokes a sense of the struggle and chaos of that time, making it not just visually striking but also deeply thought-provoking. Displaying this artwork would serve as a constant reminder of the profound impact of history on contemporary life. 

Bibliography

Dr. Stephanie Chadwick, "Francis Picabia, Ideal," in Smarthistory, October 23, 2017, accessed November 4, 2024, https://smarthistory.org/picabia-ideal/

Dr. Lara Kuykendall, "Marcel Duchamp, The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even (The Large Glass) ," in Smarthistory, March 6, 2016, accessed November 4, 2024, https://smarthistory.org/duchamp-largeglass/

Josh R. Rose, Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris, "Meret Oppenheim, Object (Fur-covered cup,        saucer, and spoon)," in Smarthistory, April 9, 2022, accessed November 4, 2024, https://smarthistory.org/meret-oppenheim-object-fur-covered-cup-saucer-and-spoon/

Farrell, Jennifer. “Art as Influence and Response: A First Look at World War I and the Visual Arts.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/world-war-i-and-the-visual-arts-introduction. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.