Post 3 Modernism

Women Artist Modernism in Germany

 Modernism is a noun which means a character or quality of thought, technique or an expression. It also means movement or style that focused on breaking with classical and traditional forms of living. Modernism has also been referred as a movement toward modification of traditional beliefs based on the modern ideas.

Jeanne Mammen, Schwester im Atelier (Sister in the studio), c. 1913. Oil on canvas, 108.5 x 155.5 cm. Berlinische Galerie, Landesmuseum für Moderne Kunst, Fotografie und Architektur. © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2015. Photo: Kai-Annett Becker

Abstraction

        Kunsthalle presents the work of women Germany artists from 19^th century. In his exhibition, he shows various positions held by women and the extent at which they have contributed to the development of Art in Germany over the past 20 years. At this time, only men were allowed to get study. The abstraction started as a fight to attain the rights of independent artists.   Only male artists were recognized and respected by then, female artists had to struggle in the face of societal rejection and familial duties, until later on they were really independent artists hence modernism, breaking the traditional ways to modern ways. Famous women who showed modernism despite the challenges were; Käthe Kollwitz, Paula amongst many others. They represent women modernism even up to date as their male counterparts.

Germany expressionism

         In Germany, even although many women artists were willing to study art in public institutions, initially it was hard as they were under the control of their men. This had something to do with social life as women by then were not allowed to study in public schools. However, with time, they were allowed to attend the public schools, where they could study art, hence start of modernism (Sherren, 2016).

Paula Modersohn-Becker, Girl with Flower Vases (Mädchen mit Blumenvasen), c. 1907, Von der Heydt-Museum Wuppertal, photo: Erich Lessing / Art Resource, NY

Installation view of Expressionism in Germany and France: From Van Gogh to Kandinsky at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (June 8–September 14, 2014), photo © Museum Associates/LACMA. Middle Left: Paula Modersohn-Becker, Girl with Flower Vases (Mädchen mit Blumenvasen), c. 1907, Von der Heydt-Museum Wuppertal, photo Credit: Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY

Dada

         Also known as Dadaism. It was an art movement that occurred in Germany in early 20^th Century. It consisted of articles that rejected reason, logic and aestheticism found in the modern capitalist society. The arts expressed irrationality and nonsense protests in their presentations. The art spanned literary visual and sound media inclusive of sound poetry, sculpture and collage. They were expressed in both violence and war (Bramble, 55-80).

Dada, an iconic character from the Ultra Series. His design draws inspiration from the art movement.

Cover of Anna Blume, Dichtungen, 1919

Surrealism

          Started in Paris, Germany in the year 1924 and later transferred to other nations such as France. It used art as identity but women deferred from the male art. Their paintings were not aimed at representing personal experiences. For the women, the surrealism was a way of self-awareness, exploring both inner feelings and thoughts and mores so understanding their true identities.

 

         The whole process of modernism as we have seen above, was as a result of defying the old ways and embracing new ways (modern life). Women artists were after gaining their freedom in the art industry therefore, they had to struggle and overcome or objections and restrictions from the society. Attending public institutions was also a new way of achieving modernism as women initially were not allowed to attend schools. Self-awareness and realization, exploration of internal feelings and emotions made the whole idea of modernism successful during the 20^th century.

References

http://unframed.lacma.org/female-voices-expressionism

https: https://www.google.com/search?q=surrealism+modernism+in+germany+women+artists&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-ab//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dada

Sherren, J. (2016). Discovering a New Identity: Influences of the German Avant-Garde on Transatlantic Modernists from the United States (Doctoral dissertation).

Bramble, J. (2015). Destruction-Creation: From Decadence to Dada. In Modernism and the Occult (pp. 55-80). Palgrave Macmillan UK.

http://blog.brooklynartproject.com/2015/10/empathy-and-abstraction-modernist-women-in-germany/