The 1920's in Europe and Russia, was a time in which certain art movements occurred. For example
Bauhaus school, surrealism in western Europe, and expressionism in Germany.
Within this time period, such things as the Russian revolution occurred. The research will go into depth on some of the emerging art movements, and then move onto discussing the events of the soviet revolution, and then moving onto the chosen research task.
The term Bauhaus describes an art school that existed in Germany. it was a school with was founded in the year of 1919. Many famous artists have previously practised in this movement, a few of these artists include Josef Albers, Paul Klee, and Kurt Schmidt.1
The brief research on Bauhaus art will begin by focusing on an example piece below. This piece by Albers, (born in 1888, in Germany), The figure below shows a strong use of colours, mainly red, with black and white lines. (figure 12)
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| Figure 1 |
Surrealism is the name of an art movement that is linked to the themes of baroque. It started around the year of 1910, and the movement experimented a lot with such themes as automatic writing, otherwise known as automatism. Automatic writing is the process of tapping into the subconscious mind, creating randomised, and abstract shapes.
Some of the earliest experimentations with this new art movement, began with several artists, some of which included Max Ernst, Andrè Masson, Salvador Dali, and Man Ray.3
The research will discuss the surrealist artist, Salvador Dali and his life, as well as detailing several analysed examples of some of his art pieces.
Dali was born on may 11th, 1904, in a town situated in the northern part of Spain. The year of 1916 was a very fundamental year for Dali, whilst studying in his secondary education at "The Figueres Instituto", as well as the "Marist Brothers' College", Dali was becoming familiar with such painters as Ramon Pinchot, and Juan Nunez. That same summer, he began experimenting with the surrealist movement, as well as Spanish symbolism, after looking at some paintings by the French artist, Ramon.
Ramon was aware of the art movements going on in the capital city, and later held classes which Salvador Dali participated in after the summer.
He later began to illustrate, and some of his work made its way into Catalan magazines, like 'Patufet'.
Dali left the places in which he gained his secondary education, taking some advice from his father, a public notary, as well as a freethinker, and began attending at the 'Residencia de Estudiantes', as well as 'the Academia de San Fernando', which was a School that taught Painting, Sculpture and also Engraving.
He was excluded from the institutes after refusing to participate in an art theory exam.4
After this, he became very familiar with a few artistic figures, such as the film director, Luis Bunel, Poet, Garcia Lorca, and Pedro Garfias. All of whom, would become key influences in Dali's later life.
Dali soon after this, had created works that had a clear element of the cubist style within them. One of the pieces he created that provide evidence to this, is one entitled "Syphon and bottle of rum", figure 25, below.
Some examples of the other surrealist works that he created in the era of the 1920s, include the images below. The first one called, 'The Wounded Bird' (figure 3).6
This piece that was created in 1928, is an surrealist piece, depicting a wounded bird on the ground.
Dali was born on may 11th, 1904, in a town situated in the northern part of Spain. The year of 1916 was a very fundamental year for Dali, whilst studying in his secondary education at "The Figueres Instituto", as well as the "Marist Brothers' College", Dali was becoming familiar with such painters as Ramon Pinchot, and Juan Nunez. That same summer, he began experimenting with the surrealist movement, as well as Spanish symbolism, after looking at some paintings by the French artist, Ramon.
Ramon was aware of the art movements going on in the capital city, and later held classes which Salvador Dali participated in after the summer.
He later began to illustrate, and some of his work made its way into Catalan magazines, like 'Patufet'.
Dali left the places in which he gained his secondary education, taking some advice from his father, a public notary, as well as a freethinker, and began attending at the 'Residencia de Estudiantes', as well as 'the Academia de San Fernando', which was a School that taught Painting, Sculpture and also Engraving.
He was excluded from the institutes after refusing to participate in an art theory exam.4
After this, he became very familiar with a few artistic figures, such as the film director, Luis Bunel, Poet, Garcia Lorca, and Pedro Garfias. All of whom, would become key influences in Dali's later life.
Dali soon after this, had created works that had a clear element of the cubist style within them. One of the pieces he created that provide evidence to this, is one entitled "Syphon and bottle of rum", figure 25, below.
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| Figure 2 |
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| Figure 3 |
Expressionism is the name of an art movement that emerged at the turn of the century. Artists who practised in this genre didn't just stick to crating traditional artwork, such as paintings (although this was a common style), expressionists also created such things as poetry.
In terms of German expressionism, at the start of the 19th century, German culture began to celebrate nature, in the sense that it was a symbolisation of nature. Some Germans experimented, and took part in emerging new cults, as well as exploring activities such as nudism, and naturism. In the decades following the industrialisation of much of Europe, nature was often regarded as a relief to work, and crowded urban life in large towns and cities. Many artists created images of nude people in natural surroundings, as a celebration to this new celebration of nature. Existing commissioned artists for documentation were over shadowed by the camera, and thus allowed art movements to emerge in experimental forms.7
An example of some expressionist art depicting nudity, and natural forms now, and the first image that is below, (figure 48), stems from a German artist.
In this image called "Bathers in the Thicket of Reeds" c1922, by the artist Otto Müller, you can clearly see the theme of nudism, and also naturism. Naturism elements are supported by the inclusion of natural forms, in this case, the bushes, reeds and water.
For the main research task, the text will be focusing on surrealism and sexuality in 1920's art photography and film. It is clearly depicted in many aspects of creative forms. As an example of an artist who depicted a lot of sexualised images, the research will start by focusing on the modernist artist and photographer, Man-Ray.
Man Ray was born in Philadelphia, in the year of 1890, and in his later life, worked in an advertising office. After witnessing a show in 1913, started his venture into cubism.9
In 1921, he discovered a photogram technique, which he dubbed, the 'Rayograph'. Later, he also discovered the process of solarisation (see figure 3 below). Although he continued to paint throughout the years after these discoveries, he ventured heavily into the use of photography.10 (Below, an example of his experimentation into photography, figure 511).
This surrealist photograph duo is entitled "The Marquise Casati", and was shot in 1922. Both images are out of focus, and the image on the left side is an example of solarisation, which resembles a negative piece of analogue film. The photograph could also be a reference to sexual themes, due to the bare skin of the women figure in the photo, it could suggest that she is topless.
The image above (figure 612)is another example of Man-Ray's surrealist photography, and another containing a solarised visual style, as well as a sexual theme of nudity. This image is not from the 1920's, however it is from the 1930's, and is an example of Man Ray's style at a later date.
References Used:
1. Kennedy, A. (2006) Bauhaus. Pg: 13, London: Flame Tree Publishing.
2. Figure 1: "Fugue" Artist: Josepf Albers, c1925, Kennedy, A. (2006) Bauhaus. London: Flame Tree Publishing.
3. Voorhies, James. "Surrealism". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/surr/hd_surr.htm (October 2004) Viewed:
4. Bradbury, K. (1999) Essential Dali. Pg: 6- ,Bath: Dempsey Parr.
5. Figure 2: (internet) "Syphon and Bottle of Rum", c1924, http://uploads5.wikipaintings.org/images/salvador-dali/siphon-and-small-bottle-of-rum.jpg Viewed: 12:05 13.3.14
6. Figure 3: "The Wounded Bird" Artist: Salvador Dali, c1928, Bradbury, K. (1999) Essential Dali. Pg: 43, Bath: Dempsey Parr.
7. Barron, S. and Dube, W. (1997) German Expressionism: Art And Society. Pg: 23, 1st edn. London: Thames & Hudson.
8. Figure 4: "Bathers in the Thicket of Reeds", Artist: Otto Müller, c1922, Barron, S. and Dube, W. (1997) German Expressionism: Art And Society. Pg: 164, 1st edn. London: Thames & Hudson.
9. Ronald Alley, Catalogue of the Tate Gallery's Collection of Modern Art other than Works by British Artists, Tate Gallery and Sotheby Parke-Bernet, London 1981, p.477
10. Bouqueret, C. (2008) Surrealist Photography. London: Thames & Hudson.
11. Figure 5: "The Marquise Casati", Artist: Man Ray, c1922, Bouqueret, C.(2008) Surrealist Photography. Pg: 7, London: Thames & Hudson.
12. Figure 6: "Man Ray: (Jacqueline Goddard)" (2005.100.141) In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2005.100.141. (October 2006) Viewed: 1:23pm 12.3.14
Alphabetical Ordered Bibliography:
In terms of German expressionism, at the start of the 19th century, German culture began to celebrate nature, in the sense that it was a symbolisation of nature. Some Germans experimented, and took part in emerging new cults, as well as exploring activities such as nudism, and naturism. In the decades following the industrialisation of much of Europe, nature was often regarded as a relief to work, and crowded urban life in large towns and cities. Many artists created images of nude people in natural surroundings, as a celebration to this new celebration of nature. Existing commissioned artists for documentation were over shadowed by the camera, and thus allowed art movements to emerge in experimental forms.7
An example of some expressionist art depicting nudity, and natural forms now, and the first image that is below, (figure 48), stems from a German artist.
 |
| Figure 4 |
For the main research task, the text will be focusing on surrealism and sexuality in 1920's art photography and film. It is clearly depicted in many aspects of creative forms. As an example of an artist who depicted a lot of sexualised images, the research will start by focusing on the modernist artist and photographer, Man-Ray.
Man Ray was born in Philadelphia, in the year of 1890, and in his later life, worked in an advertising office. After witnessing a show in 1913, started his venture into cubism.9
In 1921, he discovered a photogram technique, which he dubbed, the 'Rayograph'. Later, he also discovered the process of solarisation (see figure 3 below). Although he continued to paint throughout the years after these discoveries, he ventured heavily into the use of photography.10 (Below, an example of his experimentation into photography, figure 511).
 |
| Figure 5 |
This surrealist photograph duo is entitled "The Marquise Casati", and was shot in 1922. Both images are out of focus, and the image on the left side is an example of solarisation, which resembles a negative piece of analogue film. The photograph could also be a reference to sexual themes, due to the bare skin of the women figure in the photo, it could suggest that she is topless.
 |
| Figure 6 |
References Used:
1. Kennedy, A. (2006) Bauhaus. Pg: 13, London: Flame Tree Publishing.
2. Figure 1: "Fugue" Artist: Josepf Albers, c1925, Kennedy, A. (2006) Bauhaus. London: Flame Tree Publishing.
3. Voorhies, James. "Surrealism". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/surr/hd_surr.htm (October 2004) Viewed:
4. Bradbury, K. (1999) Essential Dali. Pg: 6- ,Bath: Dempsey Parr.
5. Figure 2: (internet) "Syphon and Bottle of Rum", c1924, http://uploads5.wikipaintings.org/images/salvador-dali/siphon-and-small-bottle-of-rum.jpg Viewed: 12:05 13.3.14
6. Figure 3: "The Wounded Bird" Artist: Salvador Dali, c1928, Bradbury, K. (1999) Essential Dali. Pg: 43, Bath: Dempsey Parr.
7. Barron, S. and Dube, W. (1997) German Expressionism: Art And Society. Pg: 23, 1st edn. London: Thames & Hudson.
8. Figure 4: "Bathers in the Thicket of Reeds", Artist: Otto Müller, c1922, Barron, S. and Dube, W. (1997) German Expressionism: Art And Society. Pg: 164, 1st edn. London: Thames & Hudson.
9. Ronald Alley, Catalogue of the Tate Gallery's Collection of Modern Art other than Works by British Artists, Tate Gallery and Sotheby Parke-Bernet, London 1981, p.477
10. Bouqueret, C. (2008) Surrealist Photography. London: Thames & Hudson.
11. Figure 5: "The Marquise Casati", Artist: Man Ray, c1922, Bouqueret, C.(2008) Surrealist Photography. Pg: 7, London: Thames & Hudson.
12. Figure 6: "Man Ray: (Jacqueline Goddard)" (2005.100.141) In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2005.100.141. (October 2006) Viewed: 1:23pm 12.3.14
Alphabetical Ordered Bibliography:
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