Modernism & Postmodernism

Gabriele Munter, Portrait of Marianne Werefkin, 1909 

Modernism refers to the late 19^th century early 20^th century in which artists of all kinds reflected the way art was being interpreted by their new modern world. This movement was used to describe a time in which artist began to experiment within their art and often represented everyday life. This was also a time where artist broke away from incorporating religious aspects into their art. Art became a more openly creative space for artists. Instead of the typical painting they started to move into performance arts, film, and media. Modernism allowed women to showcase their art and be equally seen in the same space as male artists. They had the ability to make bold yet “simplistic” statements on the things that currently affected their lives. Some popular modern artists include Frida Kahlo, Gabriele Munter, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Gabriele Munter’s work focused on the abstraction and the new woman. Abstraction uses shape, form, color, and line to create work that can stand alone on its own. To a naked eye it can often be interpreted as basic or “something a child can do” when in reality, it is a lot more complex. Abstract art does not represent accurate depictions of a visual reality and makes it very obvious that it is not a representation of reality. In my personal opinion, abstract art looks like a clearer version of impressionism; you get a hint of what the artist was trying to portray. On the other hand, the new woman movement posed as a feminist ideal that came to light. It was a way for women to become apart of the professional enterprises. It was a way for women to be taken seriously. However, artists like Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe focused more of the topic of the female body. Both artists had different ways of depicting the female body. Frida focused on the realities of the female bodies, the mishaps, and damage that her own body had to take and the pain she endured reflected in her work. On the other hand, Georgia showed a softer side of the female anatomy. She often claimed that it was unintentional but most of her work represented human life imitating nature as she mostly known for her flower paintings.

Frida Kahlo, The Broken Column, 1944

Yoko Ono, Cut Piece, 1964

Postmodernism was a movement that started mid to late 20^th century and was a way for artists to break away from the modern ways that art had been produced before. Woman artist has used postmodernism as a time to publicly address gender roles and sexism. They began to come into the realm of mixed media such as photography and film, also using performance art as a way of art. For example, the popular postmodernism performance Cut Piece by Yoko Ono addresses the sexualization of women. The performance consists of her being seated allowing spectators to come and cut pieces of her clothing as she sits there motion and emotionless. The pieces address the question; how far is too far? Meanwhile, Adrian Piper’s Cornered address the unsettling feeling in people when the obvious that doesn’t want to be stated, is stated. For example, the statement “I am a black woman” would be an obvious statement I would make, but the announcement of it would cause people to address it head on which often makes people uncomfortable, and that is something that Piper strived to target in her work.

Adrian Piper, Cornered, 1988