Modernism

Modernism is made up of different “isms” movements and some are impressionism, fauvism, cubism, constructivism, dada-ism, and surrealism. Along with it came revolutionary wars, political disputes, and artistic movements of different kinds. Women struggled to make their mark and gain recognition for their work through their art. Women artists were a great inspiration because during the war they happily took part in the war effort, working hard and making money to help a great cause. But soon after the men came back home these women became a problem for society (Men) because they were going outside their normal roles as wife and mother.

They were breaking grounds not only in the workforce but in politics, art, and home life. Their innovative techniques helped foster modernism to accent home decor and the fashion industry. This was a time of great change and rebellion, women challenged patriarchy by pushing for equal opportunity. This gave birth to Dadaism because it focused on political issues and expressions rather than beauty. Chadwick described Dada as, “contempt for traditional painting as a static, materialistic form.” Also, the surrealism movement became popular with many women because it displayed their reality through their art. The Guerilla Girls make mention of this in relation to the male gaze when they say, “Instead of presenting herself as a passive object ready to be consumed by a heterosexual male gaze, she defiantly presents herself as both object and subject of her own sexual fascinations.”

Hannah Höch is a Dada artist who specialized in creating collages of photographs and magazines. She struggled to change the social order and fought for equality for all women. A notable piece by her was, Cut with the Kitchen Knife through the Beer-Belly of the Weimar Republic, 1919. Frida Kahlo is a Mexican painter and her most notable work is in the form of self-portraits such as, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird.  She experienced many health problems and as a result was isolated from other people. Her sad condition became the inspiration of her work, she even says, “I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best." The movements she took part in are, Surrealism and Magic realism. Kandinsky The prominent Russian painter and art theorist, Wassily Wassilyevich was recognized for painting one of the first abstract paintings. He partook in the movements Expressionism and abstract art. His most notable work is, On White II, Der Blaue Reiter.

Hannah Höch, Cut with the Kitchen Knife through the Beer-Belly of the Weimar Republic, 1919, collage of pasted papers, 90 x 144 cm, Staatliche Museen, Berlin

Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, Nickolas Muray Collection, Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin^[16




Wassily Kandinsky, Composition 8

Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907). Picasso is considered to have re-invented the art of painting. Many of his friends and colleagues, even fellow painters Henri Matisse and Georges Braque, were upset when they saw this painting.




Sonia Delaunay, Prismes electriques 1914 © Pracusa 2013057 © CNAP





"A master at color theory, Delaunay became known as ‘The Colorist’, where she brought color to all elements of her life, extending passed her paintings; graphics, interiors, fashion, textiles, pottery, film, theater. Delaunay’s work has a universal look, the sense of movement and rhythm with her usages of contrasting colors." http://www.moderncolorist.com/featured/motivational-mondays-sonia-delaunay/

Works Cited:

Chadwick, W. (2012). Women, Art, and Society (5th ed.). New York, NY: Thames and Hudson.

Guerrilla Girls (1998). The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

Links:

http://www.artbook.com/9780870707711.html

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/feminism/a/feminist_art.htm

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~museum/armory/gender.html