Hopkins+Artist+in+Crisis

Oxford History of Art

• Title: After Modern Art 1945-2017

• Author: David Hopkins

• Publisher: Oxford University Press

The Artist in Crisis: From Bacon to Beuys

The Heroic Artist Post-1945

• Post-war avant-garde artists inherited a heroic image of the artist.

  • Influential figures included:

    • Picasso: Known for his varied styles.

    • Duchamp: Embodied intellectual dandyism.

    • Mondrian: Advocated for universal abstract vision.

• This model persisted post-1945, but societal shifts began to alter perceptions of artistic uniqueness.

• Jackson Pollock exemplified the tortured artist image through Namuth's photographs.

Changes to the Artist's Identity

• The proliferation of commodity production eroded the cultural value of uniqueness in art.

• Artists responded to societal changes differently, with European artists often revising humanistic themes in their works.

Humanism and Individualism in Post-War British Art

British Sculpture and International Recognition

• Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore emerged as leading British sculptors, shaping the national art profile.

• Henry Moore's works:

  • Blended universal themes with English sensibilities.

  • Example: Working Model for Reclining Figure (1951) used form inspired by European avant-garde and emphasized classical harmony.

  • Moore's art reflected resilience amid national recovery post-war, infused with Neo-Romantic imagery.

Contrasting Visions: Moore vs. Bacon

• While Moore's sculptures represented stability, Francis Bacon's works reflected chaos and a departure from humanism.

  • Bacon's Early Work:

    • Three Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion (1944) depicted haunting human struggles aligning with post-Holocaust sentiments.

    • His art focused on raw human emotion and psychological turmoil.

    • Used photographs as references, diverging from the traditional model of painting.

The Legacy of Bacon and Freud

• Bacon's use of motion and animal imagery put him at odds with mainstream humanist representation.

• Lucian Freud adopted a direct focus on live models, prioritizing observational realism over Bacon's stylized and photographic approaches.

  • Freud's work was politically charged, reflecting individualistic opposition to existing norms.

Fenomenology and Existentialism: Giacometti to Beuys

Alberto Giacometti's Existential Perspective

• Giacometti's sculptures encapsulated the fragility of human perception and existence.

  • Notable Work: Standing Figure (1946) showcased his intricate, ethereal quality in a large drawing.

• His innovative approach emphasized existential themes reflective of the post-war human condition.

Joseph Beuys: The Artist as Shaman

• Beuys transcended traditional art, intertwining performance with socio-political commentary.

  • In performance pieces, such as Coyote (1974), he navigated themes of identity and transformation.

  • Relied on materials with symbolic significance (e.g., fat, felt) reflecting personal and cultural history.

The German Post-War Identity Crisis

• West Germany saw a struggle for modernist identity, shaped by past Nazi ideologies.

  • Artists sought to redefine their practice through both international and localized influences.

• Georg Baselitz:

  • His works juxtaposed themes of sexuality and trauma within the socio-political landscape of Germany.

• The legacy of Beuys, through his hierarchical engagements and public roles, further shaped Germany's cultural evolution post-war.

Art and Commodity in the Post-War Era

New Realism: Critical Responses to Consumer Culture

• Emergence of Nouveau Réalistes in France challenged the concepts of traditional art through engagement with consumer culture.

  • Artists like Yves Klein and Arman redefined what constituted art.

The Commodification of Spirituality: Yves Klein

• Klein altered the art landscape by branding and commodifying his works with spiritual contexts.

  • Notable works include performances and Monochrome paintings in International Klein Blue.

  • His actions represented a shift from the heroic artist to self-marketing.

Piero Manzoni's Subversive Approach

• Manzoni countered Klein's commercialization with works challenging aesthetic norms (e.g., Merda d’artista).

  • His Act-like works questioned value, transforming base materials into 'art'.

Conclusion

• Overall, the evolution of the post-war artist reflected a complex interplay of existential philosophy, societal change, and emerging consumerism, leading to a redefined notion of artistry amid crisis.