Alexander Calder: Form, Movement, and Material The 19th century was a period that underwent a lot cultural change, especially due to the rise of Modernism; this movement was founded by people who primarily wanted to express new ideas using different subjects, styles, and materials. Alexander Calder was one of the most revolutionary modern artists of the time as his passion for engineering was used to create art that could transform a space emotionally, physically, and spiritually. His abstract yet expressionistic works were inspired by the likes of Mondrian, Miro, and Klee. Calder was said to be the first to develop mobile art, a type of kinetic sculpture, that connected industrial and machinelike material to his whimsical, inquisitive, playful mind. Calder’s style evolved …show more content…
Calder’s mobiles were created using a variety of materials some of which include: tin, wood, steel, and wire. In Lobster Trap and Fish Tail, Calder had to cut out forms from aluminium sheet metal and bend them to create arcs, curves, and projections which he would later attach using steel wires. The final step would be to paint on top of the metal sheets. For the production of the aluminium sheet metal, aluminium is hammered or compressed by objects that are applying a lot of pressure on it which will cause the metal to thin out and stretch. In Lobster Trap and Fish Tail, aluminium sheet-metal was used primarily because it is very versatile, delicate, luminous, and light enough to be suspended in the air which can allow for greater movement. Calder is an artist that preferred to physically handle or work the material, which is why most of his works were hand-on type of projects. His works therefore reference the time he spent training as an engineer and could explain why his earlier works required him to bend copper wires to create
He used the ideas from Art Nouveau, Art Deco, constructivism, and fellow artists like Wassily Kandinsky. Art Nouveau was a movement from the late 19th early 20th century, that inspired the use of geometric, and organic forms, ultimately making natural forms more angular. Art Deco was a material style movement from the 1920s, that was a blend of modernity with classical pasts. Those were expressed through geometric shapes and streamlined forms; it was a sophisticated kind of elegant. Constructivism movement was one of art and architecture that was geared towards unity or social change since it developed after World War I. The style of the movement was abstract and accepted modernity, normally geometric, but was preferred to be of objective form not subjective. Artists like Wassily Kandinsky were abstract expressionists, embracing the expressionism movement, that was geared towards showing emotion and universal themes. They blended the concepts of surrealism and abstract art to generate a style that fit postwar moods (anxiety, trauma). Bubbles used key elements of all these movements that were before his time in his work, which defined his style. He used the elements of color, geometry, symbols, and art history, as well as others in his visual designs. The styles used in Bubbles work always went against what society accepted as design
In the early twentieth century the Modern movement of architecture and industrial design came about. This movement was a reaction to the change within society and the introduction of new technologies. The ever changing world and technology meant artists to evolve alongside the changing world and this kind of ‘industrial revolution’ that was happening. Modernists ideas have seeped into every form of design especially architecture and design. Although most modernists insisted they were not following any style in particular, their work is instantly
Imagine pondering into a reconstruction of reality through only the visual sense. Without tasting, smelling, touching, or hearing, it may be hard to find oneself in an alternate universe through a piece of art work, which was the artist’s intended purpose. The eyes serve a much higher purpose than to view an object, the absorptions of electromagnetic waves allows for one to endeavor on a journey and enter a world of no limitation. During the 15th century, specifically the Early Renaissance, Flemish altarpieces swept Europe with their strong attention to details. Works of altarpieces were able to encompass significant details that the audience may typically only pay a cursory glance. The size of altarpieces was its most obvious feat but also its most important. Artists, such as Jan van Eyck, Melchior Broederlam, and Robert Campin, contributed to the vast growth of the Early Renaissance by enhancing visual effects with the use of pious symbols. Jan van Eyck embodied the “rebirth” later labeled as the Renaissance by employing his method of oils at such a level that he was once credited for being the inventor of oil painting. Although van Eyck, Broederlam, and Campin each contributed to the rise of the Early Renaissance, van Eyck’s altarpiece Adoration of the Mystic Lamb epitomized the artworks produced during this time period by vividly incorporating symbols to reconstruct the teachings of Christianity.
Abstract art in comparison to realism, can be described as two art forms on opposite ends of the art style spectrum. Picasso and Pollock both had a massive impact on the outcome of modern art through their ability to challenge viewers as they interpret art, not for what the painting shows, but instead what the idea of it came from. Picasso’s painting is now an iconic symbol for an anti-war message, and Pollock’s painting now represent a form of freedom of speech and expression throughout America. Ultimately the reason artists moved from realism to abstract came from the invention of the camera, giving artist a reason to branch to new and edgy art forms, which will later create the modern art
Modern art serves to immerse us more thoroughly in a scene by touching on more than just our sight. Artists such as Grosz, and Duchamp try to get us to feel instead of just see. It seems that this concept has come about largely as a way to regain identity after shedding the concepts of the Enlightenment. “Philosophers, writers, and artists expressed disillusionment with the rational-humanist tradition of the Enlightenment. They no longer shared the Enlightenment's confidence in either reason's capabilities or human goodness...” (Perry, pg. 457) It is interesting to follow art through history and see how the general mood of society changed with various aspects of history, and how events have a strong connection to the art of the corresponding time.
During this time, new technologies impacted every aspect of life, rapidly changing the art world. Post-Impressionist artists learned skills, discipline, and value from the Impressionists before them, as well as the use of light, shadow, and color. However, these artists were more concerned about placing an emphasis on expression, structure, and form. Although they continued to use these learned techniques, they deposed the notion that art had to be represented in its true-life form, and thus moved away from realistic or natural representation. Preferring the more expressive effect that came from within themselves. they explored new techniques, perspectives, and shapes, incorporating their own new ideas into their art, such as placing emphasis on geometric form, or the actual distortion of form (MindEdge) which can be seen Van Gogh’s
“I forced myself to contradict myself in order to avoid conforming to my own taste.” Marcel Duchamp is commonly regarded, along with Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, as one of the three artists who helped revolutionize the art world in the 20th century. Born July 28th, 1887 in Blainville-Crevon, France, Duchamp was a painter, sculptor, writer and avid chess player. Originally associated with Dadaism, after WWI, Duchamp rejected the work of many of his fellow artists, like Matisse, as retinal art, intended to only please the eye. Instead, Duchamp wanted to make art about the mind, which would set the foreground for conceptual art and change the world’s perception on what art is.
Cultural and political changes such as the spread of Marxism, the rise of psychoanalytical ideas, and the growth of media in the face of technological advancement prompted many artists to reassess notions of art (Farthing). Rejecting the idea that art must realistically depict the word, many artists started to explore abstract ideas such as symbolism and focused more on the representation of emotions or personal subjects they had direct experience or interest in (MoMA). Modernist sculpture cannot be identified by one defining characteristic, rather it encompasses different art movements and represents a pivotal moment for sculptors to investigate different materials, methods of construction and formal elements of sculpture such as form, space and mass. Constantin Brancusi played a major role in developing modernist sculpture, after rejecting Rodin’s naturalism. Brancusi tried to capture the essence of the subject by distilling them down to their most refined and simplified forms. For example, he used a section of the body to represent its entirety, often focusing on the head as he felt that was the most expressive component of a human being. He also emphasized a commitment to the material’s natural properties, using a direct carving
People decided to rebel against the political and social rules of their time and started a new trend of art. It conveyed dramatic subjects perceived with strong feelings and imagination.
During this time period artists became famous and inspired many people with their works. Caspar David Friedrich was a famous artist who lived from 1774-1840 in Greifswald, Germany. He was known for painting mediums with watercolors and oils, which is landscape art. Friedrich changed the face of landscape paintings with his intense and emotional focus on nature and became a key member of the Romantic Movement. "Friedrich demonstrated piety to God through nature, the diminished strength of man in the larger scale of life, and great emotion."( Artble ) Some of Friedrich's best known works and most easily recognizable paintings include Cross in the Mountains, Wanderer above the Sea of Fog and Two Men Contemplating the Moon. Another famous artist is Ferdinand Eugene Victor Delacroix, more commonly known as Eugene Delacroix, was a French painter who had a profound influence on the Romantic Movement. He was known as a master of color. He lived from 1798-1863 in Charenton, France. He focused on oil, pastel, wood, and other verities of paintings and drawings. Delacroix became a pupil of the English Romantic landscapists and extracted from their techniques, to develop a unique and memorable approach to color. Delacroix's paintings changed the art world forever and his technique had a lasting impact on the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements. Today, Eugene Delacroix is remembered as one...
Art has gone through many significant developments throughout history. The most important turning point was the renaissance. Art took a huge turn before the 1500’s and even after. The Renaissance has assisted the world of art in breaking away from a classic structure and shaping it to what it is day. Prior to this cultural rebirth, artworks were mostly not made to scale. Paintings were unrealistic and disproportionate. Religious figures seemed to be the focus of many works. The Renaissance changed the old social context of art by introducing humanism, new themes and techniques.
Pablo Picasso was one of the most recognized and popular artist of all time. In Pablo’s paintings and other works of art, he would paint what he was passionate about and you can see his emotions take control throughout his paintings and other works of art. Pablo Picasso works of art include not only paintings but also prints, bronze sculptures, drawings, and ceramics. Picasso was one of the inventors of cubism. ” Les Demoiselles d'Avignon” is one of Picasso famous paintings; this is also one of Pablo’s first pieces of cubism. Picasso went through different phases in his paintings; the blue period, rose period, black period, and cubism. Picasso was a born talented artist, with his dad setting the foundation; Picasso became the famous artist of the twentieth century.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the Art Nouveau style became an international movement. For the first time in decorative arts history there was a simultaneous movement throughout Europe and America. Art Nouveau brought the finest designers and craftsmen together in order to design buildings, furniture, wallpaper, fabrics, ceramics, metalwork and glasswork. Art Nouveau was considered more than a style, it was a philosophy. From this philosophy carefully designed articles for the home were designed intended to fit into the scheme of the whole Art Nouveau style. Line was the most important aspect of the Art Nouveau period. Art Nouveau was a rebellion against machine made articles of the 19th century that were copies of past designs. Art Nouveau was also a reaction against the old Victorian tradition. Art Nouveau designers borrowed from the past but because of the emphasis on line and adaptation of natural forms to design. Art Nouveau is easily distinguishable from any other period in decorative arts.
During the 19th century, a great number of revolutionary changes altered forever the face of art and those that produced it. Compared to earlier artistic periods, the art produced in the 19th century was a mixture of restlessness, obsession with progress and novelty, and a ceaseless questioning, testing and challenging of all authority. Old certainties about art gave way to new ones and all traditional values, systems and institutions were subjected to relentless critical analysis. At the same time, discovery and invention proceeded at an astonishing rate and made the once-impossible both possible and actual. But most importantly, old ideas rapidly became obsolete which created an entirely new artistic world highlighted by such extraordinary talents as Vincent Van Gogh, Eugene Delacroix, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cezanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Claude Monet. American painting and sculpture came around the age of 19th century. Art originated in Paris and other different European cities. However, it became more popular in United States around 19th century.
Romantic art portrays emotional, painted, or shown in a bold and dramatic manner, and there is often a stress on the past. Romantic artists often use sad themes and dramatic tragedies. Paintings by famous Romantic artists such as Gericault and Delacroix are filled with energetic brushstrokes, rich colors, and emotive subject matters. While the German landscape painter Casper David Friedrich created images of lost loneliness, and at the same time in Spain, Francisco Goya conveyed the horrors of war in his works. This shows the variety of different art works of this time period. Some of these artists were fascinated in nature, people can definitely see this if they are shown through any Romanticism museum, also the importance of drama and emotion. At this time artists made their art work portray more then what the eye sees, the artists added more symbolism to the art work then in the Renaissance. The Pre-Raphaelite movement succeeded Romanticism, and Impressionism is firmly rooted in the Romantic tradition. Other famous Romantic artists include George Stubbs, William Blake, John Margin, John Constable, JMW Turner, and Sir Thomas Lawrence. And Although Romanticism was very popular for the paintings, it was also popular for its music, and poetry, and even architecture. This shows that this period advanced not only in variety of artwork but also a variety of all sorts of effects.