Modernism was a global art movement that captured the essence of new experiences and emphasized revolution. “ In Western art, movements and the “isms” appeared, one after another: impressionism, postimpressionism, fauvism, cubism, futurism, constructivism, dada-ism, surrealism, expressionism, abstract expressionism, etc. Put them all together and what do we get? Modernism” (Guerrilla Girls, 59). This movement rejected traditional values, techniques, and welcomed experimentation with different forms such as shapes, colors, and lines. Modernism is in direct lineage with industrialization. Dating all the way back to the mid-eighteenth century, the Industrial Revolution introduced advances in manufacturing, transportation, and technology. These cutting edge developments greatly impacted the cultural, economic, and social circumstances in Western Europe, North America and would eventually affect the world. Along with the rise of industrialization, people gained access to a new, different way of thinking, which would ultimately change the world of art. Prior to modernism, artists felt compelled to stick to the very classical, straightforward type of art, which included portraits, landscapes and other scenes that had very specific meanings. During this movement, art shifted from being restricted to an open space for endless creativity. Artists began to explore the subconscious mind, dreams, symbolism and personal experiences as inspiration for their work.
It has never been easy for women to make a name for themselves during any art movement, but Modernism was definitely a step in the right direction for female artists. The Guerilla Girls explain how women faced adversity because they didn’t fit the mold that white male artists created. Of course this hindered their growth, but women were still able to rise above it. The Guerilla Girls state “ there was also more opportunity than ever before for a woman to live her life and make art on her own terms. In the 20th century, women won rights never given to them before, including the right to vote. With more freedom, more women have become artists” (Guerilla Girls, 59). Modernism provided a platform for women to not only utilize, but to also showcase their knowledge and skill within the art world.
Modernism highlighted both abstraction and innovation, and in this case both seem to go hand in hand. In Chadwick’s Women, Art and Society, she explains that abstraction’s course is “inextricably bound up with the formal developments of Post-Impressionism and Cubism, and with a desire to break with nature and infuse the resulting art with a profound spiritual content, has been extensively traced” (Chadwick, 252). An influential artist that incorporated both abstraction and innovation was Sonia Terk Delaunay. Delaunay “was always innovating, thinking of new ways [her] ideas could be applied to the world at large” (Guerilla Girls, 61). Delaunay got her start by designing costumes for Diaghilev’s ballet, Cléopâtre. Delaunay’s costume designs were ideal for the movements of the ballet, and accentuated the body of the dancer. It was through Diaghilev that Delaunay was able to network with members of the Spanish society, and would soon after be able to open her own shop, Casa de Sonia, which established modern design in Spain. Chadwick goes on to later explain that Delaunay, and her husband Robert, were largely accepted by Dadaists because “ they lived their art in every aspect of their lives. Moreover, they shared their commitment to breaking free from the static quality of painting by applying the language of abstraction as widely as possible with other Dada collaborators” (Chadwick, 271). Delaunay’s work continuously broke boundaries between art and life.
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| Sonia Delaunay's costume design for Cléopâtre |
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| Claude Cahun, Self Portrait, 1928 |
Surrealism, an additional development within the Modernist movement, focused on unleashing images and thoughts from the unconscious mind, which explored creativity, imagination, sexuality and desire. Another artist who pushed the envelope during the twentieth century, and was way ahead of her time, was Claude Cahun. Cahun was a gender-bending surrealist artist, who was extremely controversial during her time. Often times, male writers on surrealism didn’t include Cahun in their works, and it is only now that she is being rediscovered and getting the recognition that she has been so deserving of. She was one of the first female artists to use herself as her own model in the name of art. The Guerrilla Girls state “Claude’s pictures were a relief from this sometimes monotonous aspect of art history. 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” (Guerilla Girls, 63).
Postmodernism surfaced after World War II, in juxtaposition with Modernism. While both movements were based off of the social and cultural climate of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Postmodernism pulls away from the ideology of Modernism. As the article “What is the Difference Between Modern and Postmodern Art?” , the author states “Postmodernism is associated with the deconstruction of the idea, ‘I am the artistic genius, and you need me’ ”. Postmodernism has abandoned the “unified traditions of Modernism” (Chadwick, 380). According to Chadwick, “Postmodernism draws heavily on existing representations, rather than inventing new styles , and that it often derives its imagery from mass media, or popular culture, has focused attention on the ways that sexual and cultural difference are produced and reinforced” (Chadwick, 380). With this being said, Postmodernist artists implemented the use of conceptual art, installation art, performance art, photography, and technology, and made them key components in the realm of art. Feminism runs deep in the core values of both of these movements. As stated before with more freedom, more women became women artists. However, they were still overshadowed by male artists, who often took credit for their work. In Postmodernism, women tackled these notions and commented on sexuality, stereotypes, and other forms of discrimination though their work.
Barbara Kruger is a pivotal artist in the Postmodernism movement, as her work conveys a message in a way that has never been done before. Kruger uses different graphics and pictures, and then adds her own captions, that serve as social commentary. Chadwick discusses how work by women artists address contemporary issues, while also being engaging to the audience. Some of the issues they touch on in their works include “ deconstruction, appropriation, and language...and examinations of narrativity and identity politics, personal and cultural” (Chadwick, 380). Kruger’s work does just that. Through her work she is able to open conversations about sexism, consumerism, and almost any other social or political issue.
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| Barbara Kruger: in her own words https://youtu.be/8xi9qQb2SHU |
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| Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Your Gaze Hits the Side of My Face), 1981 |
Another postmodernist, who is my personal favorite, is Yoko Ono. Ono is recognized for her performance art, film making and peace activism. Similar to Cahun, Ono made herself the object of her work in her live performance, known as “Cut Piece”. During this live performance, she invites different people to cut off pieces of her clothing, until she is left in just her undergarments. I appreciated this piece because Ono was completely vulnerable, yet she managed to keep her composure and sit still throughout the entirety of this performance. Although this piece is open to interpretation, I admire how Ono challenges the idea of objectification, and incorporates viewers and subjects reciprocating each other.
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| Yoko Ono, Cut Piece https://youtu.be/pTGSsWVK2Eo |
Works Cited
The Guerilla Girls, The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. Penguin Books, 2006.
Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. Langara College, 2016
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