Exiles of N.Y. and Early Abstract Expressionis

Overview of Art Movements and Influential Artists

Introduction

  • Discussed in prior classes: artists during wartime and trauma.

  • Emphasis on the exploration of art styles: Cubism, Surrealism, and American identity.

Key Artists and Movements

Artists Explored

  • Highlighting artists from a global context, particularly those who were exiles to the United States, primarily New York City.

  • Influence of migration and cultural exchange on New York's art scene, especially during World War I and II.

American Art Styles

  • Superhero Comics: E.g., Marvel comics, identified as a distinctly American style.

  • Pop Art: Associated artists include Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein; characterized by primary colors such as red, yellow, and blue.

  • Graffiti: Emerging as another distinctly American art form.

Artistic Styles and Techniques

Surrealism and Cubism

  • Surrealism: Emerged from experiments with language, dreams, and subconscious exploration.

  • Automatism:

    • Definition: Performance of actions without conscious thought or intention.

    • Used to express ideas visually in painting.

  • Biomorphism:

    • Definition: Working with shapes that reflect animals and plants; involves abstracting recognizable elements.

Cubism

  • Originated with significant figures like Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro.

  • Marked by geometric shapes and distortion, progressing through the 1920s and into World War II.

Influence of Dadaism

  • Dadaism:

    • Reaction to the horrors of World War I; celebrated for its anti-art sentiments.

    • Began in Paris, influenced Surrealism and focused on spontaneity and chance.

    • Important manifestos published in 1924.

  • Key figure: Salvador Dali, noted for works that explore dreams and the subconscious.

  • Dadaism’s influence reflected in artists’ purpose of relinquishing control during creation.

Specific Works Explored

Guernica by Pablo Picasso

  • Subject Matter: Political artwork representing the bombing of civilian areas during the Spanish Civil War.

  • Technique: Combines elements of Cubism and Surrealism; described as a 'living nightmare'.

  • Visual Style: Lacks multiple perspectives; characterized by a limited color palette, primarily blacks, whites, and grays.

Roberto Matta’s Work

  • Title: Burgo of Arabs (1944).

  • Medium: Oil on canvas; Matta embodied ideals of Surrealism in artistic representation of subconscious thought.

  • Connection to opticality: Exploring how visual elements challenge viewer perception.

Concepts of Assemblage

Andre Breton

  • Central figure in Surrealism; contributed to the movement through writings and ideas.

  • Assemblage:

    • Definition: Gathering and combining different objects or materials into a cohesive piece; utilized in the 1940s and 50s.

Marcel Duchamp

  • Innovator of the Readymade: Found objects transformed into art.

    • Importance of conceptual experimentation over aesthetic qualities.

    • Acknowledgment of the political undertones in art; the role of the artist in design decisions.

The Avant-Garde Movement

  • Definition: Refers to art that is experimental, radical, and aims to challenge traditions.

  • Connection to political movements: Although not all avant-garde art holds political intent, many pieces reflect societal upheaval and transformation.

Transition to Post-War Art

Joseph Albers

  • Respected educator at the Bauhaus; influenced American artists by introducing new principles of painting.

  • Early Abstract Expressionism: Characterized by spontaneous emotion and gestural brush strokes.

  • Concept of Plasticity:

    • The relationship between color and shape, as well as how they create dimensional space or movement in the artwork.

  • Exploration of color theory, seeing responses as relational rather than absolute.

Concepts of Color and Perception

  • Focus on how colors interact with one another and their effect on viewer perceptions.

  • Homage to the Square (1953): Work exploring color autonomy and interactions between colors, creating emotional resonance in viewers.

Conclusion

  • Rich tapestry of influences from various cultures on American art.

  • Exploration of identity, movement, and stylistic evolution in response to historical context.

  • Key vocabulary and concepts contextualizing the art movements discussed: Automatism, Biomorphism, Assemblage, Avant-Garde, Plasticity, and how they relate to the works studied.