Sasha LaTange

Modernism and Postmodernism

Art and Women

9 April 2019

During the late 19th and 20th century, modernism was a stoic movement that had a huge impact, which resulted in the transformation of social organization, art, literature, philosophy, daily activities, and e.t.c. The development of modern industrial societies, the aftermath of World War I, and the steady growth of cities; were all factors that contributed and shaped modernism. Many modernist weren’t in favor of religious beliefs, but their creative art steamed from their everyday life engagement. During the late 19th century, feminist concerns strongly influenced the clothing of women. Chadwick mentions the significance of clothing in her book Art and Women, she writes “The bustles, whalebone stays, and tight lacings so fashionable in the 1880s came under attack… discourses finally converged in a fundamental redesign of the ideal female figure that replaced the corset’s exaggerated and constricting curves with the more flexible serpentine curvature of the modern body” (Chadwick 254). Evidently there was a shift in style and women started to wear what they felt most comfortable in and started pleasing themselves rather than men. This new sense of self confidence through the image and clothing they portrayed and presented to the world, also began to reflect within their artwork. Approaching the 20th century, women were granted the right to vote which was seen as a great milestone. As the level of freedom increased for women it had also been reflected in various ways, in particular, their art which enabled free strokes. Modern art became the new classical art, replaced with abstract, cubism, orphism,dadaism,and surrealism.

Abstract art paintings and sculptures depict vivid and bright colors and became the new hot topic of art . According to Chadwick “modernity is both linked to the desire for the new that fashion expresses so well, and culturally tied to the development of a new visual language for the twentieth century abstraction” (Chadwick 253). Sonia Delaunay was the wife of cubist painter (Robert Delaunay) whom had put her husband’s career first until she became interested in the dynamics of surface design which then became her primary concern. Working with textiles and embroidery allowed her to break down the variety of art and emphasize the structure of the surface. The painting below illustrated Delaunay testing her curiosity and interest in the dynamics of surface design.

Sonia Delaunay, Simultaneous Contrasts, 1912         Sonia Delaunay, Prismes Isoq, 1914

During 1921, the Dada milieu was growing in Paris, “they lived their art in every aspect of their lives… they shared their commitment to breaking free from the static quality of painting…” (Chadwick 270). Hannah Hoch, was one out of the many painters that became known around this time period. Her painting, DADA-Dance 1919-21, juxtaposes machine parts with a female dancer and a model dressed exquisitely in all black. The message behind this painting was suppose to demonstrate the scale of violent malconformation and reject streamlined femininity which undermined the codification of the idealized female body (Chadwick 271).  

Hannah Hoch DADA-Dance 1919-21

The idea of the new woman had also formulated around modernism, the ideology of glamour was emphasized in a woman’s sexuality, youth, and reality, it’s complexity made their lives hectic. However “the new woman” prevailed  into a new identity as industrial workers and consumers. At this moment, it became evident that liberated woman were better consumers. Romaine Brooks is a great representation of the new woman. In her Self-Portrait 1923, she is seen in a big hat that seemingly covers her eyes, along with a long black trench coat, and gloves. Generally females were expected to dress in gowns with their hair and makeup done but Brook challenges that image in which she appears to be more masculine than feminine. Frida Kahlo, another female painter that raised from modernism, switched the gear and had more of a surrealist perspective of modernism. Surrealism allowed artists to unlock the power of imagination; it was believed that the mind repressed the power of the imagination and the unconscious mind.

Romaine Brooks, Self portrait 1923

On the other hand, postmodernism has been used to “characterize the breaking down of the unified traditions of Modernism” (Chadwick, p. 380). In comparison,  modernism and postmodernism encouraged all artists from different backgrounds to participate. Postmodernism challenged many injustices such as racism, feminism, etc. Barbara Kruger, depicts  the rivalry against male gaze in her art piece Untitled (Your Gaze Hits the Side of My Face). In this piece, she has the words “Your Gaze Hits the Side of My Face” written on the left side of a woman’s face. This image exemplifies that women  aren’t objects and women are simply imprisoned just for being a female. They are imprisoned by the objectification of men seeing them as only sexual pleasers.

Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Your Gaze Hits the Side of My Face), 1961

Work Cited

Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society. Thames & Hudson, 2007