Modernism, known as the period during which there have been many major changes in the world, economically, politically, and especially in the art field. There was a use of photography during this period and a major revolution among the women artists. Modernism is said to have been started during the late 1800’s and lasted until the mid-1900’s. During this time women, artists used the female body as a form of expression while men portrayed themselves as creatures of high sexual energy whereas women were shown submissive, as usual. Many women artists started practicing self-conscious art. Artists like Paula Modersohn-Becker and Suzanne Valadon were two the first female artists to use their own, as well as other women’s naked bodies in their arts after Artemisia Gentileschi.
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| Self-portrait by Suzanne Valadon. |
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| Self-Portrait of Paua Modersohn-Becker from 1906 when she was pregnant. |
Whitney Chadwick, the author of “Women, Art and Society” talks about modernism in her book, she says that “ The emergence of a self-conscious set of practices and characteristics through which the modern in art is understood developed gradually and coincided with the appearance of the first generation of women artists with more or less equal access to artistic training” (279). During this period, women artists felt the need to something that the society would might not necessarily be accepted by the society but needed to be done. They were not worried about the norms and strongly believed in freedom of self-expression. Many women artists did not get recognition until much later, as people still believed men artists were better although most of their arts represented women as powerless. Chadwick talks about this in her book and goes on to say that “ Modern artists from Renoir (“I paint with my prick”) to Picasso (“Painting, that is actual lovemaking”) have collaborated infusing with the sexual and the artistic by equating artistic creation with male sexual energy, presenting women as powerless and sexually subjugated”(279).
Fashion played a big role during this period as well. There was the use of different textiles and designs in clothes. Artists started using more colors, different abstract designs, and embroidery in their work. Another big thing that started is the Dada art Chadwick says that “The Dada contempt for traditional painting as a static, materialistic form, unable to communicate the vitality of modern life, found a sympathetic spirit in Delaunay, but it was her employment of a variety of media and her liberal attitude to breaking down the distinction between art and craft that probably inspired the Dadaists”(272).
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A picture of women wearing Sonia Delaunay's appliqued coat.
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Post-modernism came right after modernism, around the 1960’s by this time two world-wars have caused a major rift around the world, cause people to changes their ideologies and beliefs. During this period artists wanted to do something completely different from modernists, especially women artists, who experimented with a lot of new and different ideas that dealt with feminism and women empowerment. Women artists more openly talked about gender roles, sexism through their artwork. Artists like Marthe Rosler, who created a sarcastic film about women in the kitchen, where she was standing in the kitchen showing how to use each kitchen utensil.
Another such artist is Nan Goldin, an American Photographer, whose work focuses on the LGBT community, intimacy, women’s body, and abuse.
In this picture, she has bruises on her face, and one side of her face appears to be swollen. She took this picture after she was battered by her then boyfriend. She is wearing a red-lipstick and looking calm in the picture. She took this picture to spread awareness about what could possibly to a woman in a relationship, and she also at the same time highlights, hoe men feel they are more powerful than women and think its ok to show that power in the form of abuse.
Works Cited:
Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: Thames and Hudson, 1990. Print.
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