Early Modern Blog Exhibit
This week I chose the essay option. The three works of art I will discuss in my essay are "The Scream" by Edvard Munch, "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Pablo Picasso, and "Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper.
The Scream, 1910 by Edvard Munch |
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, 1907 by Pablo Picasso |
Nighthawks, 1942 by Edward Hopper |
A strong sense of
discomfort and uncertainty pervaded the early 20th century, and this emotion
was represented in the art of the time. Artists of the time struggled with the
problems and concerns of their era, from the upheavals of World War I to the
economic instability of the Great Depression. “The Scream” by Edvard Munch,
"Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Pablo Picasso, and
"Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper are three early 20th-century paintings
that we will examine in this essay to see how they depict the spirit of this
upheaval.
Edvard Munch's
"The Scream," which he painted in Oslo, Norway, in 1893, is one of
the most well-known pictures of the 20th century. A creature with a skull-like
visage and hands covering its ears is shown in the painting wailing in agony
against a background of blazing red and orange. The figure and the landscape's
writhing lines and warped forms communicate the artist's own thoughts of dread
and worry by evoking a sense of chaos and terror. The powerful feelings of the
time, as individuals struggled to cope with the uncertainties of the
contemporary world, are captured through Munch's use of vivid colors and
exaggerated figures. Pablo Picasso's
revolutionary painting "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," completed in 1907
in Paris, France, served as the catalyst for cubism, one of the most
significant creative trends of the 20th century. Five naked ladies are shown in
a brothel in the painting, their bodies shattered and deformed into distinct
geometric patterns. With its quick changes and shifting social standards, the
modern world is split, as shown in the painting's disconnected composition and
broken forms. Picasso reflects the angst of a changing society through the use
of strong, flat colors and sharp angles that evoke a sense of disorientation
and disquiet. Edward Hopper's
"Nighthawks," which he painted in New York City in 1942, depicts a
gloomy late-night cafe with three individuals sat at the counter and a lone man
at a table in the distance. The bold, geometric shapes and stark lighting of
the painting evoke a sense of alienation ad loneliness while also representing
the confusion and unpredictability of living in a world that is changing
quickly. While the deserted streets outside suggest the emptiness and despair
of contemporary urban life, the painting's unsettling stillness evokes the
sense of a society in suspension, waiting for something to happen. These works of art
each express a distinctive facet of the angst and uncertainty of the early 20th
century. With its vivid colors and warped forms that reflect the depth of
emotion that people felt, "The Scream" perfectly conveys the sense of
dread and despair that followed the upheavals of the time. The fragmented forms
and disorienting composition of "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" portray
the splintered nature of contemporary society, reflecting the sense of
dislocation and disorientation that people went through. With its austere lines
and empty spaces, "Nighthawks" conveys the unsettling quiet of modern
life and the sensation of isolation and alienation that individuals experienced
in the face of the unknown. These three works
of art, which capture the era's sense of unease and dread, provide insightful
looks into the spirit of the early 20th century. From Munch's vivid colors and
exaggerated forms to Picasso's shattered composition and geometric patterns to
Hopper's stark lighting and empty spaces, each painting uses a unique
combination of artistic elements to express its message. We can comprehend the
problems and concerns of this crucial time in history better by looking into
these artworks and their subjects. |
References
Art in Context. 2023. ""Nighthawks"
Edward Hopper - The Lonely Diner at Night." Art in Context.
https://artincontext.org/nighthawks-edward-hopper/.
Harris, Dr. Beth, and Dr. Steven Zucker. n.d. "Picasso,
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon." Khan Acadamy.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-1010/cubism-early-abstraction/cubism/a/picasso-les-demoiselles-davignon.
Paulson, Dr. Noelle. n.d. "Munch, The Scream." Khan Acadamy . https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/later-europe-and-americas/modernity-ap/a/munch-the-scream.
Tamarit,
ReplyDeleteI found you selection of Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks" to be very appealing, as it draws the attention of the observes to all of the subjects that are depicted in the painting, but also to the setting in which the individuals are present in. It's true that although there was a feeling of uncertainty during the early part of World War II, I feel like the painting doesn't show the entire story of how many people were eager to enlist in the fight on behalf of the United States, as well as how there was much involvement by many others, including women, in taking part in many of the efforts here at home in support of the war effort abroad. The painting, I feel, misses out on the American involvement in programs such as the CCC & the WPA. But Hopper does do a wonderful job in displaying the details of the dress customs of the folks during the this era.
Abdurahman
I agree that all three paintings give the viewer a sense of unease and dread. The disfigured face of the scream, the twisted perspectives of the bodies of the Madmoaselles, and the eerie emptiness that can be observed at the dinner.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed a similarity in the color pallet on all of them; I don't know if it was intentional, but I though it was pretty cool!