Modern Art History: Fauvism to Post-WWII

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering modern art movements, notable artworks, dates, media, and themes from Fauvism and Expressionism through Post-WWII art.

According to Henri Matisse, what is the primary goal of Fauvism?

“Seek the strongest color effect possible.. The content is of no importance.”

What medium was used by Henri Matisse for "The Green Stripe" (1905)?

Oil & tempera on canvas

What statement did Henri Matisse make regarding his 1911 work "The Red Studio"?

“I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me.”

Which artist served as a direct influence on Cubism, as seen in Georges Braque's "Houses at L’Estaque" (1908)?

Paul Cezzane (Cezane)

What medium did Emile Nolde use for "Young Couple" (1913)?

Lithography

Who is listed as the author associated with the Futurist Manifesto in the notes?

Filio Tomasso Martinelli

What medium was used for Umberto Boccioni's "Unique Forms of Continuity in Space" (1913)?

Bronze

What are the three works listed as Brancusi's Stages of Abstraction?

Sleep (1908), Sleeping Muse (1909-11), and The Newborn (1915)

Which 1650 painting by Diego Velazquez served as the basis for Francis Bacon's 1953 study?

Portrait of Innocent X (Portrait of Innocent)

How is Francis Bacon’s studio in London described, and what significance do its contents hold?

It is messy; the things seen can unfold deeper feelings, emotions, and meaning.

How does the transcript describe Georg Baselitz's 1963 painting "Big Night Down the Drain"?

A painting of a small Hitler masturbating while being surrounded by dead bodies, reflecting shame of the calamities caused by WW doings.

What theme is depicted in Georg Baselitz's 1962 work "Acker"?

Guilt and shame of the calamities caused by WW doings, surrounded by dead bodies.

What was Anselm Kiefer demonstrating in "Occupations" (1969)?

Showing that the Nazi Salute is wrong

What medium was used for Anselm Kiefer's "Black Flakes (Schwartz Flaggen)" (2006)?

Mixed Media on Canvas

What four technological and industrial elements are listed under Syntheticism?

Technology (Industrial Revolution), Photography, Paint Tube, and Synthetic Pigments

What emotional effect does Matisse's "Joy of Life" create, and how?

Creates an erotic feeling by using lots of color.

How does Henri Matisse attempt to eliminate perspective in "The Red Studio" (1911)?

By making the space all red and leaving all art and sculptures in color.

What subject matter and emotions are represented in Pablo Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d’Avignon" (1907)?

It is a very aggressive painting representing prostitutes and Picasso’s fear of sex and its risks.

How is Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's "Street, Berlin" (1913) characterized?

It depicts a high-class prostitute selling herself to others, with other prostitutes surrounding her.

What lesson or message is conveyed by René Magritte's "The Treachery of Images" (1929)?

We are deceived by images; the piece is telling us art is not reality and actuality.

What visual method does Salvador Dalí use in "The Persistence of Memory" (1931)?

Juxtaposing images together by distorting images.

How is René Magritte's "The Son of Man" (1964) characterized in the notes?

He is the tree of life.

How does Man Ray's untitled work from the 1920s objectify women?

By covering her head and arms with prosthetic building.

How does Bettina Buck's 2015 work "Man Ray" modify the original pose?

The pose is different: on one leg, with a paper cutout of one breast covering.

What art form is Raoul Hausmann's "der Kunstreporter (The Art Critic)" (1919-20) identified as?

Photomontage (a collage and assemblage together)

What critique of humanity is made in Raoul Hausmann's "The Spirit of Our Time"?

He thinks humans are blind, have no sense of motive, and just strap things on.

What scene is depicted in George Grosz's "The Pillars of Society"?

Pre-Nazi rise, where German soldiers are attacking and burning buildings behind the leaders.

How does Kurt Schwitters describe space and process in "Merzbau" (1933)?

How space evolves and changes; it grows and the piece transforms as he continues to add more pieces.

What happened when Marcel Duchamp submitted "Fountain", and how was it subsequently presented?

The fountain (in the shape of a urinal) got rejected at an art show, and was given to Alfred Stieglitz to reframe its context at a gallery.

What event prompted Pablo Picasso to paint "Guernica" (1937)?

The bombing of Guernica by German soldiers.

What secondary title is given to the Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial (2000) by Rachel Whiteread?

Nameless library

What concept is associated with Edward Hopper's 1926 painting "Eleven AM"?

Alienism