Modernism/Post-Modernism

Madeline Pitti
Art & Women
11/21/2017

Modernism is a break from traditional forms and mindset, which resulted in new forms and perspectives of art. Chadwick's book, Women. Art, and Society, says that "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). Movements like impressionism, postimpressionism, fauvism, cubism, futurism, constructivism, dada-ism, surrealism, expressionism and abstract expressionism make up Modernism. Modernism occurred during the late 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, which was some time after World War I. Of course, women still were discriminated against, which has been a common theme throughout the years, but with women gaining the right the vote, women were able to find more opportunities to showcase their work. As stated in Guerilla Girls' book The Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art, "with more freedom, more women have become artists" (Guerilla Girls 59). However, more often than not, the husbands of these woman got the credit and there was also the struggle to have their work seen as equal as those done by their male counterparts. Women were still seen as inferior to men who couldn't possibly do art as well as men. Even so, the image of how women were portrayed was slowly being disintegrated and replaced with the women's own sexuality and how they wanted to portray themselves. It was more about them and less about these male viewers.  

Sonia Delaunay's work included primary color, which wasn't fond of during that time, and helped "synthesize Post-Impressionism, early Matisse, and Russian folk art" (Chadwick 260). She also worked with textiles and embroidery, and focused on surface design. She also started to make simultaneous dresses that included "abstract form", in contrast to the fashion during that time. It is important to note that "the female body itself was perceived as an important signifier for modernity" (Chadwick 262). 

Sonia Delaunay, Petite automne, 1938/1971

 Fashion also very important for the start of modernity and for abstraction. Delaunay's dresses became hot news. Goncharova highly influenced Rayonism, while Nazheda Udaltsova and Popova was associated with Cubism.

Natalia Goncharova, The Cyclist, 1915

Popova was known to "emphasize color and texture" and that "her work set the tone for what was to follow" (Chadwick 268-69). In the text, it also goes on to say that Delaunay inspired the Dadaists (from dada-ism). From here came the term "New Woman", which showcased women being more independent and the rise of women in labor work.  

Of course, women were portrayed as sexual objects still, as seen in "Matisse's nude and Manet's and Picasso's prostitutes" (Chadwick 279). Carol Duncan's article "Domination and Virility in Vanguard Painting" argues that "the vanguard myth of individual artistic freedom is built on sexual and social inequalities. Reduced to flesh, the female subject is rendered powerless before the artist/viewer:"...her body contorted according to the dictates of his erotic will. Instead of the consuming femme fatale, one sees an obedient animal..." (Chadwick 280). Valadon and Modersohn-Becker were two women artists who challenged female identity and connected to nature, but was often criticized. In Chadwick, it states that "instead presented the female body as a lush surface isolated and controlled by the male gaze, she emphasizes the awkward gestures of figures apparently in control of their own movements. Valadon often placed her figures in specific domestic settings, surrounding them with images of domesticity and community as in Grandmother and Young Girl Stepping into the Bath," (Chadwick 285-26) as pictured below. 

Suzanne Valadon, Grandmother And Young Girl Stepping into the Bath, 1908.

Her nudes were often much fuller in body shape compared to the female figures often done by male artists. It showed "natural womanhood" relating to the female body. Modersohn-Becker also "ignored conventional perspective and anecdotal detail to produce monumental images of idealized motherhood..." (Chadwick 287). Kollwitz from the Expressionism movement also portrayed poverty with women. Gwen John used "simple interiors bathed in soft light and isolated female figures set against textured walls" (Chadwick 293). Even with all of this, they were still not taken seriously because of their gender. Marie Laurencin should also be noted for bringing "feminine art to major status". Romaine Brooks presented a modern lesbian for the first time, and portrayed women as slender, which was a contrast to the voluptuous women often displayed. Her representation women lead to the creation of amazons and warrior women. Cross-dressing and androgyny also came about and women started wearing clothes that were seen as masculine.  Georgia O'Keefe also recently was rediscovered and her work is often not comparable to others. Women also started making paintings based on social issues women go through, like suffrage. Surrealism also celebrated "the idea of woman and her creativity" and attracted many woman artists to it (Chadwick 309). "They made significant contributions to the language of Surrealism, replacing the male Surrealists' love of hallucinations and erotic violence with an 

Art of magical fantasy and narrative flow, and moving, however tentatively, toward laying claim to female subject positions within male-dominated movements" (Chadwick 311). Surrealist artists to note like Leonora Carrington and Dorothea Tanning "build up tight surfaces with layers of small and carefully modulated brushstrokes" (Chadwick 311).

Leonora Carrington, Self Portrait, 1938

 It also says that "women artists dismissed male romanticizing of nature as female and nurturing and replaced it with a more austere and ironic vision" (Chadwick 312). Frida Kahlo, like other Surrealists, "re-created themselves as beguiling personalities, poised uneasily between the worlds of art and nature, or the instinctual life" (Chadwick 313). Kahlo often incorporated nature into her self- portraits. Instead of only serving the role of being observed, they now were also the observer. Following Abstract Expressionism, Lee Krasner "turned to large-scale, hybrid anthropomorphic forms in a series of disturbing paintings..." (Chadwick 330). It also says that she used "pastel tones, foliate shapes, and egg forms combine with brushwork and aggressive loaded forms to produce the large works that ultimately secured her place in Abstract Expressionism" (Chadwick 330). Women were integral to Modernism because they contributed to many –isms that existed, and gave way for more representation. 

Post Modernism starting from the 20th century distances itself from Modernism and its aftermath, and also debates theories. It relies more on technology and video-based art. It also has a much looser definition of art can be, unlike Modernism. Another difference to point out is that during the Post Modernism Era, there was Feminism more than ever and a lot more minorities, which was hard for an artist. Some examples of post-modern art would include Pop Art, and Yayoi Kusama, who is known for the polka dot art on naked bodies, is an artist to take note of. 

Yayoi Kusama, Kusama with Pumpkin, 2010

She is also associated with Minimalism and Feminist Art. Word Art, which The Guerilla Girls often does, is also part of Post Modernism. Most of their pieces have to do with the limited, if any, presentation of women artists in museums.

The Guerilla Girls, Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum, 1985-90

 There is also Conceptual Art, which Yoko Ono and Adrian Piper are known for. Yoko Ono's work was minimalistic, and involved her audience, like in her performance Cut Piece. This piece also falls under Performance Art, which uses movements and barely any words. Agnes Martin was known for her Minimalism Art, which is characterized by its simplicity and focuses more on form. As mentioned beforehand, Feminist Art had to do with issues relating to women, which varied from sexual abuse to domestic abuse. Modernism also appears to be simpler, while Post Modernism tackles complexity and challenges Modernism. Dadaism, which Hannah Hoch is known for, and she also tackled on the issue of gender. Modernism and Post Modernism were during different times and focus on different ideas and concepts. Modernism is more traditional, while post modernism is often questioned as being art, and also focuses more on technology. Because Feminism Art existed during Post Modernism, it gives the feeling that women were integrated more and had more of a voice to express themselves. These new approaches to art didn't define art to one definition or standard and also breaks away from paintings that are more traditional. 

                                                         Works Cited
“Postmodernist Art Definition, Characteristics, History.” Postmodernist Art: Definition, Characteristics, History, www.visual-arts-cork.com/postmodernism.htm.

 Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art and Society. Thames and Hudson, 2015.

The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. Penguin Books, 2006.