1950's - 1960's

Consumer Cultures and Pop Art.



"pop culture and lifestyle became closely intertwined in the sixties... The subject matter, forms and media of Pop art reveal the essential characteristics of a cultural atmosphere and way of life we associate with the sixties."

"Sometimes i think that extreme beauty must be absolutely humourless. But then i think of Marylin Monroe and she had the best fun lines." - Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol 
The Twenty-Five Marilyns, 1962

"Andy warhol's series of Marilyns, produced in 1962 after her death, reveal the inauthenticity of her image by repeating her face - or her lips - in rows."

POP ART, Tilamn Osterwold, page 12

This is my own photograph of  Andy Warhol's,  Ten Lizes, 1963. I took this image during my visit to Paris in 2012 while in the pompidou centre. A piece which was created by Andy Warhol in the same way in which he created his Marilyn Monroe piece. 



Consumer Culture, Pop art. 

Pop Art, Tilamn Osterwold, page 29

Andy Warhol Close Cover before Striking (Pepsi Cola)1962

Pop Art, Tilamn Osterwold, page 31

Andy Warhol Green Cola Bottles, 1962

Using Art to place an emphasis on the consumer culture. During these times there was an obsession with money. 

"Artists soon turned their attention to looking behind the facade of this much hyped symbol of the times, and exposed it as inflationary and average."

Pop Art, Tilamn Osterwold, page 34

Pop Art in Britain

"British Pop Art arose out of a new understanding of contemporary life. It was intellectual, interdisciplinary and programmatic in character. Detailed study shows that its emergence as an artistic phenomenon was gradual, developing cut of the wider cultural context in Britain at the time."

Again much like discovered through the research into more American based pop art it appears that in britain too, pop art came as a result of social  and cultural change and development in the country. 

Richard Hamilton

Just what is it that makes todays homes so different, soappealing? 1956

Pop Art Tilman Osterword, page 64

Although its claimed that Americanism was influencing Europe at this time i think it is interesting to look at the vast differenced between American and British Pop Art.

1920 Russia.

Russian Revolution, Soviet Russia. 

"Accompanying a new outlook on politics and economy, there had to be renewal and change in other areas too, including the way the new state presented itself and its ideas.

The revolution coincided with a period of many radically different art forms in western culture, dada, futurism, constructivism, surrealism and so on. Especially in its early years, propaganda posters produced in Soviet Russia were influenced by such movements.

Though the more experimental looks eventually gave way to designs more akin to what could be seen in other western countries, Soviet propaganda still retained a look of its own, beyond the presence of cyrillic lettering." 

http://blog.the-dot.co.uk/design/soviet-russia-propaganda-posters/

1920

1920's

Liberated woman – build up socialism! 1926

" The poster was a means by which artists could commit themselves to the Revolution."

"The photograph was favoured because its mechanical character suggested modernity, and its reproducibility suggested democracy." The power of the poster, Margaret Timmers, page 118

My personal feelings and observations on the posters seem to give across the feeling of anger. Notice the repeated red colours in every poster produced, and often the harsh geometrical lines and shapes used in most. 

page 119

"Soviet Russia initiated programmes of propaganda which were designed to elicit support for the Revolution in a massive country populated by largely illiterate, peasant people."

Power of the Poster, Margaret Timmers, page 118

Power of the Poster, Margaret Timmers, page 118

1900-1920

Art and Photography in the early 20th century



During the earliest parts of the 20th century, 1900-1920, photography was growing ever more stronger. Artistic movements such as the Dada movement were also beginning to form. These years were also that in which Art was largely used for and against the first world war. 

Anne Brigman

"She is probably a hamadryad or classical tree nymph who is suffering bad fortunes of her host in the mountains of california. According to the old stories, hamadryads were tree spirits and they died when their trees decayed."

The Photography Book
PHAIDON
Page 69


Anne Brigman was well known for producing nude images such as this one here. She would use her friends, sisters and mother as models. One would believe that nude photography to this extent during this time would have come as quite a shock and have been disliked by many as it would have been seen as indecent. 


Although the photographer Anne Brigman and many other photographers whom produced work similar to hers were apart of an American group called "the Photo-Secession" similarities or influences can be found in art and advertisement from around the same time. 

"32.Carlo Dali 'Paris Tout Nu', France, c. 1900."
The Power of the Poster, Edited by Margret Timmers
Page 44


World War I

"Kitchener's distinctive face, military uniform and finger pointed directly at the viewer instigated upon thousands of men to make their way to recruitment offices to join and accept the King's shilling."

First World War Posters
Rosalind Ormiston
Foreword by Gary Sheffield
page 9




The poster was created by Alfred Leete and is one of the most famous posters of world war one. Even today with no war going on, you can see and feel the impact the poster has even just by looking at it in a textbook. It is very cleverly made.


Posters were possibly one of the most famous types of visual arts during these years in which the war was happening. An article calling for soldiers in the news paper, or spoken over the radio most likely won't have been as effective as what these kind of requirement posters will have. 




"Artists, designers and illustrators were commissioned by official committees to create propaganda material. The majority remain anonymous but the ranks included notable names too, such as.... and illustrator Alfred Bestall (1892-1986) - later to depict the much loved children's character Rupert Bear."

First World War Posters
Rosalind Ormiston
Foreword by Gary Sheffield
page 10

Along with eye catching colours and illustrations the text upon these artistic posters mean just as much if not more! The importance of getting a powerful message across, as you can image, would have been extremely difficult without the use of words. Following the "Your country needs you poster" similar techniques and wording were used. The concept of naming and shaming or even using posters to directly appeal to people. 

First World War Posters
Rosalind Ormiston
Foreword by Gary Sheffield, Page 21


Not only were posters aimed at men going to war, but also their wives. 
"Women of Britain say Go!" its very interesting to look at the difference in style of posters aimed at men and aimed at women. You can tell by the colours, style of text and objects painted in the posters that so much thought went into these posters as to how may they best work in attracting the target audience. A lot of the women's posters seem to remind me of almost Art Nouveao style paintings  whether that be the characters presented in the posters of the syle in which they have been painted or even just the style of the text used. 

The Medieval period

Christian/Celtic Europe

"With the arrival of St. Patrick in the 5th century CE, full-scale conversion to Christianity took place, and monasteries became the principal artistic centers."
http://www.missgien.net/celtic/art.html

Folio 114 recto from the Book of Kells; the arrest of Christ.

http://www.eccentricbliss.com/tag/book-of-kells/

Folio 188 recto from the Book of Kells; the beginning of the Gospel according to St. Luke.

http://www.eccentricbliss.com/tag/book-of-kells/

celtic art was very much influenced by the Christian religion, this can be clearly seen by these two examples just here. The first illustration is of Christ. Very particular characteristics of celtic art can be seen in this illustration in particular. Rich colours such as blues, reds and golds are very often used in celtic art. Another characteristic's which is well known in celtic art is intertwining shapes, like celtic knots, almost like plant vines. lastly, intertwining animals. 

In christ's hair you can see this typical intertwining style of celtic art, at the top of the illustration, the intertwining animals can be seen. 

The below image being again from the book of Kells, but a beginning page to a part of the gospel, just goes to show the importance of this religion. Imagine the time and effort would would have to take to create a piece as highly detailed as this. To myself the painting almost reminds me of royalty. The rich celtic golds, blues and reds can be seen in this illustration also. 

"Manuscripts of books of the Bible were embellished, or "illuminated," with decorative borders and lettering" http://www.missgien.net/celtic/art.html

Folio 34 recto from the Book of Kells; Chi-Rho page; introducing St. Matthew’s account of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Again this exquisit style is used to present the begging of a chapter in this religious book. As these examples show typical examples of celtic art, it becomes clear that celtic art would not of been what it was without the influence of Christianity. 

The celtic era came around the ending to the fall of the Roman Empire. This is therefore when the country became Christian, after the fall of not only the Roman Empire, but obviously the Roman Catholic faith. 

Here is another example of Celtic Christan art from another book other than the book of Kells. Again you can see the extremely similar style in this books illustration.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/4224/Interlace-patterns-of-the-initial-page-of-the-Gospel-According?topicId=341885

"Medieval manuscripts were usually produced by a team of scribes and illustrators. However, the entire Lindisfarne Gospels is the work of one man, giving it a particularly coherent sense of design. According to a note added at the end of the manuscript less than a century after its making, that artist was a monk called Eadfrith, Bishop of Lindisfarne between 698 and 721." http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/sacredtexts/lindisfarne.html

The Nineteenth century

Roger Fenton photography, Crimean war



The crimean war was a war of Russia against Britain and France. Its quite an important land mark in the world of visual arts, as this was the first war to be documented by photographer. That photographer was Roger Fenton. The war lasted between the years of 1853 and 1856. 


"Fenton spend March-June 1855 in Crimea as an official campaign photographer, payed by the British government, recording participants and landscapes for posterity. These records never managed to capture battles, explosions, devastations, wounds, blood and tears, partly due to the limitations of photographic techniques of the period, but also because of official wish to glamorize the war and shift public attention away from government and military mismanagement, for which Crimean campaign became infamously known. " 

http://www.allworldwars.com/Crimean-War-Photographs-by-Roger-Fenton-1855.html
(all images also from above link)

"The artist's van. Marcus Sparling, seated on Roger Fenton's photographic van."

This image goes to show the extent of the limitations of taking photographs compared to now. images would be developed in here. One would assume it would be difficult enough to capture images at war during these our modern times with the small compact cameras we 

now have, never mind trying to capture images at war in the times Roger Fenton had to.

 "Roger Fenton, The valley of the shadow of death"

As you can see, there are many cannon balls spread across the desolate land. This was in fact one of the most famous images of the crimean war campaign. 

The vast size of the empty land and the number of cannon balls along with the fact the land is now empty in this image goes to show the extent of this war. Some may argue that this image would have been set up, in the fact that the cannon balls have purposely been placed to make the image look more effective/ have a greater impact. 

"Major General Sir George Buller"

i think this image is a good example of this idea of trying to glamourise the crimean war. The majour General here looks to be presented as powerful and in charge. despite the debris around on the floor both the horse and the man look proud and almost desirable.

"The tombs of the generals on Cathcart's Hill: a man standing at the grave of Brigadier General Thomas Leigh Goldie, who was killed in action at the Battle of Inkerman."

Again an image like this is a good example of how this war was photographed as a campaign. Although i wouldn't really say this image is an image id say is glamourising the war, however by posting images of the graves of these men, its gives the impression to the people back home whom are viewing these images that the apposing side to the men in these images are winning the war.  

USA 1930's

The Great Depression


During the great depression several photographers were commissioned to go to the rural areas of america and capture propaganda images of the great depression.



Dorothea Lange

http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/128_migm.html

I saw and approached the hungry and desperate mother, as if drawn by a magnet. I do not remember how I explained my presence or my camera to her, but I do remember she asked me no questions. I made five exposures, working closer and closer from the same direction. I did not ask her name or her history. She told me her age, that she was thirty-two. She said that they had been living on frozen vegetables from the surrounding fields, and birds that the children killed. She had just sold the tires from her car to buy food. There she sat in that lean- to tent with her children huddled around her, and seemed to know that my pictures might help her, and so she helped me. There was a sort of equality about it. (From: Popular Photography, Feb. 1960).

The image above is the final image. Ive chosen here to present the other images below which where the process in which this image was captured. This is the final edited image. I say edited because the thumb of this lady was intact in the bottom right hand corner of the image holding onto the stick.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/photography/genius/gallery/lange.shtml

"Since these photographs were taken at the behest of the government, in order to support Government relief efforts, there's an obvious strategy involved to portray the Government in a very positive light. Not only the Government, more important than the Government, were the recipients of relief, so the most famous examples occur with the idealisation of the 'Dustbowl' refugees, for example, in the photography of Dorothea Lange. In the six photographs of the series, she proceeds to reduce the size of the family which is identified in her captions as seven people down to three young children, one of whom is an infant and thereby the family suddenly conforms to middle class standards on family size." (James Curtis, Photo-historian)"





Walker Evans

Alabama Tenant Farmer Wife,

Alabama Tenant Farmer

The aim of these great depression images were to show those 'back home' the pain and struggle these people were going through. Some of the images are rather shocking when you see images of large families with a lot of children dressed in dirty worn clothing. As you can see in the images i posted about by Dorothea Lange the final chosen image was the image were the children looked most distressed, turning away from the camera hugging into their mother, while the mother looks most distressed and concerned in this image over the others. The idea was to propose to the public during this hard time in rural america that this woman was a desirable mother, looking after several children, she was someone the public would feel an emotion connection to and look up to and feel sorry for.

End of 19th Century. Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau

The break away from traditional styles of art, which started in Vienna. Art nouveau expressed inner feelings, it was a playful new style of painting which went against the typical strict and normal style of accurate realist paintings which had gone before it. Expressionism and symbolism were something which art nouveau represented. The modern art style explored sexuality which was possibly something which came as a shock to the public in comparison to the art which had gone before it. The first artists who created Art Nouveau could almost be considered as "artistic rebels".

The history of art nouveau -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O34YVQsFiWY

"A new art, for a new century."

Alphonse Mucha

http://artnouveaustyle.tumblr.com/archive

Alphonse Mucha was one of the most popular artist during the time of art nouveau. He was a czech artist who created paitnings, illustrations and advertisements. His work is a brilliant example of the typically known characteristics of art nouveau. This art style however, was slightly different in different countries. 

Typical characteristics of art nouveau was the influence of nature. Shapes and colours were influenced by nature and the botanical form. flowers, plants and intertwining shapes stand obvious in most Art Nouveau pieces. Avoiding geometric shapes was something which art nouveau follows. As you can see in both of these examples by Alphonse Mucha, the shapes are mostly circular.

In my own opinion these circular shapes really represent that feeling of expression through a painting. Looking at the unusual shapes gives a feeling of movement and freedom.

I translated the text on this image and it words:

"Paris cigarettes are the best"

This gives an example of the type of advertisements which were around during the times of art nouveau, something which Alphonse Mucha is very well known for creating. The style of art was so popular during these times that more than just paintings to hang on a wall had an influence of art nouveau. The style of art aimed to make everything art like. 

Art Nouveau's influences on the everyday objects of this time;

(All images again from http://artnouveaustyle.tumblr.com/archive)

"Art Nouveau pharmacy door in Sant Antoni, Barcelona, Spain"

"The Cosmovitral (El Cosmovitral) garden in Toluca, Mexico. Features stained glass murals and was built in the year 1910."

French Piano, with a clear influence of Art Nouveau style. From 1900.

Art Nouveaus influence at a later date;

Book;

The power of the poster

edited by

Margaret Timmers

"In 1963 art nouveau designs and posters by Alphonse Mucha publicized for the first time Muchas role as a leading exponent of the art nouveau style, and also contributed to the revival in popularity of the style itself. The characteristic swirling lines, organic forms and convoluted lettering of art nouveau found new expression in the decorative psychedelic posters and magazines of the pop and hippy era."