Art Movements

Sixth Grade Presentations

Spring 2012

Fauvism Anna Kankkunen

Fauvism is a style of art that started during the beginning of the twentieth century. Post-impressionists experiments with paint application, subject matter, form and most importantly, ordinary unmixed was what started the Fauvism style. It was started primarily by a group of artists who called themselves, Les Fauves, meaning "the wild beasts" in french. The group's reputation grew over time, but almost as soon as they were recognized, the group split up.

The Fauves, who were very much like van Gogh, wanted to paint using colors to express their emotions instead of to draw exactly what they see. Andre Derain once said, "I used colors as a means of expressing my emotion and not as a transcription of nature." Matisse also once said, "There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to pain a rose because before he can do so, he has to forget all the roses ever painted." Andre Derain and Matisse were the leaders of the Fauves and these quotes explain the basics of the Fauvism style.

One example of a Fauvism painting is the one to the right. The colors are very bright and are not entirely realistic. It is also a bit abstract. This painting is by Matisse and is called "Woman With A Hat".

Kinetic Art Janna Ramadan

Kinetic art was created in Paris in 1955 inspired from Dada. Kinetic means movement and that is exactly what kinetic art is. Kinetic art was made to encourage people that art doesn’t always have to be traditional, but instead optical illusions or objects that move. Kinetic was soon split into two groups Jean Tinguely who made mechanical movement art and Victor Vasarely was more interested in optical illusions and illusion movement.

These two artists brought the two different parts of kinetic art together and made them so special. Victor was taught in Bauhaus ideas and founded optical illusions. He created it by mixing black and white in different patterns to create a flickering look. Then the start of the creation of mechanized movement began. They used normal movements to examine objects in outer space. They also used geometric shapes to make them have a sense of shape. These mechanical movement machines would move by hand or air.

  Kinetic art made the start of Op art, which would continue to gain the attention of the public. Each different art would change into the next as Dada moved into Kinetic and that moved into Op.In the 1960’s Op art took the attention of the public and museums. Soon after that Kinetic art would soon decline in artists interests. You can still find some examples of kinetic art in museums, but it is not as common as it was when it was first created.

Jean Tinguely Narva 1961

Symbolism Max Ellsworth

Unlike most art movements, symbolism has a very unique style of its own. Symbolism started in the later part of the 19th century in Europe, and later influenced the beginning of other art movements. While some aspects of symbolism are simple to understand, others are highly thought-provoking.

Symbolism art can exhibit many different scenes, but is always structured around either a magical or preternatural religious context. Such examples are fairylike creatures in mystic locations, angelic people drifting though clouds, ghoulish monsters hiding in dark and grim places, and many more of the same sort.

Instead of directly showing its meaning, symbolistic paintings require the viewer to give thought into either interpreting what the artist was trying to say or in what ways they see the painting’s meaning. Although sometimes difficult to comprehend, symbolism is always fascinating, magical, and emotional.

Edward Munch The Scream 1893

Hard-Edge Painting Peninah Hodin

Hard-Edge paintings started in late 1959s and ended in early 1970s, with no true purpose except for enjoyment. It was first made noticed by a Californian art critic, Jules Langsner. He was noticing an abstract art trend and decided to create an exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which showed the work of artists Frederick Hammersly, Karl Benjamim, John McLaughlin, Lorser Feitelson, etc. Now this type of art was becoming very popular in California and was spreading fast. The exhibit eventually traveled to England and Ireland, and a British art critic subtitled the show California Hard-Edge. People say that Hard-Edge painting has combinations of artists such as Mondrian, Albers, and Reinhardt. Today, the phrase “Hard-Edge paintings” is used to describe some strange tendencies in abstract painting.

Hard-Edge painting means an abstract style that mixes geometric painting with the intense forms of Color Field painting. It is bold and from faraway, looks very common, yet very unique and individual. This type of art is known for its “economy of form, fullness of color, impersonal execution, and smooth surface planes. (http://www.theartstory.org/movement-hard-edge-painting.htm#, by: Justin Wolf)” Eventually, this style of work fell from use as different types of abstract painting moved in and Hard-Edge painting became just a term for types of art. A very famous artist who used Hard-Edge painting is Frank Stella (May 12, 1936- present).

In my opinion, I think that Hard- Edge painting is a fun, cool, abstract style. I found it to have an interesting background and realized that Hard- Edge painting is still around today, just under a different name. I find it to be a very bold and expressing type of work.

Frank Stella Moultonboro II 1965

Frank Stella Luna Wola II 1973

Conceptual Art Sara Molho

Conceptual art is a movement that became known in the mid 1960s. Marcel Duchamp was one of the first artist to champion this way of artistic thinking back in 1910. He was a great believer in understanding that art was about free and creative artistic though.He thought that the necessary motor skills that are needed to connect the brain to the hand and then to the paint brush are not needed in order to create a master piece. A great example of early conceptual art that conveys the ideas outlined above is Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain'. The idea that art could take any form shocked the art world and created divisions of highly insulted art spectators and highly inspired spectators and artists.The term 'Conceptual art' wasn't originated until the 1950s. The term 'conceptual art' was first used by Edward Kienholz. Other famous conceptual artists are Robert Barry, Joseph Kosuth, Chris Burden, Mel Bochner, Vito Acconci.

             "Conceptual Art", which began as a movement among the many artistic trends of the sixties, conceived to demonstrate precedence of the artist's envisioned concept over the technique employed for its presentation, was found to encompass far more than its contemporary movements and was a major influence on later trends. So great was this effect that while many of these art-forms have possess distinct characteristics and individual names, they are collectively based on the aesthetic viewpoints of Conceptual Art.

This artwork is called “ One and Three Chairs”. It was made by Joseph Kosuth in 1965. It is made out of Wood folding chair, mounted photograph of a chair, and photographic enlargement of a dictionary definition of "chair".

Abstract Impressionism      Timothy Lynch

This art movement began in the United States on the 1940s and continued on until 1970. Artists fled Europe during World War II and landed in New York City. There were a lot of artists living there and they started a new type of art that was called Abstract Impressionism. New York City became the new center for the arts in the world. Art in Europe was temporarily a disaster due to the war.

The meaning of Abstract Impressionism is that the artist retains the most important part of the subject. They keep the main idea in mind, and the rest of the painting seems wild and all over the place. A lot of the times you can’t tell what the painting is and sometimes you can.

I wanted to know more about Abstract Impressionism because I have some paintings in my living room, and I wanted to know more about them. Now I do know a lot of things about them, and I am happy about that.Abstract Impressionism is my favorite art period because I think it has an interesting past. I like the style.

Some famous artists that were Abstract Impressionists were Jean Paul Riopelle, Arshile Gorky, Jackson Pollock, and William de Kooning who coined the name – Abstract Impressionism.  Some famous paintings from these artists are in museums, and some sell for a fortune at Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction houses.  Abstract Impressionism usually describes feelings and emotions and a lot of energy. The brush strokes are large and fast. Some artists don’t even use paint brushes. The artist pours the paint, splashes the paint or scrapes the canvas with knives and other tools. A famous Jackson Pollock painting is “Splashed” and it looks like it was splashed with paint. The paintings can be very colorful or they could be black and white.

Arshile Gorky One Year the Milkweed 1944

Abstract Expressionism Emnet Sisay

Abstract Expression is filled with movement and texture. Abstract Expression has many themes concepts and styles. One example of that was Surrealism. Surrealism is almost entirely leaned towards color and shape. The artist Picasso often used this style when painting.

  Abstract was very successful and popular to many artist’s. Many artist’s have changed this style to fit themselves. Like making it more detailed or using manly one color instead of many scattered along their painting.  

By the late 1950’s Abstract Expression had lost it’s place in the art world as many other new movements came along as the newer generation came. Younger artist’s tried to keep it alive, but failed. With this movement’s contemporary look some are still using it.  

Jackson Pollock Stenographic Figure 1942

Pop Art Jonathan Elliott

Pop Art started in England around the years 1950 and 1960. But it got really going in New York around 1970. Pop Art is still around today in many forms but the most well known examples is Mickey Mouse.

Pop Art came around at the end of World War II. The rationing had just ended so items, such as soup cans, had gone into mass production. Some of the artists based their work on the soup cans and other mass-produced items such as cigarettes and beer. Pop Art is kind of cartoony and very colorful and hard edged.

Some people say that Pop Art started because artists didn’t want to do Abstract Expressionism because they thought those artists were greedy because they would only sell to rich people at absurdly high prices. The goal of Pop Art was to prove that Abstract Expressionism wasn’t the only form of good art and that other people actually understand Pop Art.

Five good pop artists are Peter Blake, Jim Dine, George Segal, Hans Haacke, and Richard Linder.

George Segal Walk, Don’t Walk 1976

Peter Blake Art Bus 2008-2009

Op Art Chad Batchelder

Op Art comes from the Bauhaus which was a school in Germany. The Bauhaus closed in 1933, and that is when Op Art was introduced to America. People chose to do Op Art because illusions make people think and also make people want to look at a painting that catches their eye. The first piece of Op Art was made in 1966. This creation was made by an English painter named Bridget Riley. Even though Op Art started in Germany, Riley was fascinated by the work and decided to create her own.

Op is short for Optical. Op Art is a painting that shows an Optical Illusion. The definition of illusion is an image that when you look at them, your eye and brain don’t agree. Therefore, your eyes look at the painting thinking that something on the painting is moving when it really isn’t. For example, if you stare at the center of an optical illusion painting that is circular then look around the room, you will notice that there are circles spinning around the room from the direction of the circular illusion that you have just looked at.

Some artists who chose to create Op Art as a career are people such as Bridget Riley who created the first piece of Op Art, Yaacov Agam, Josef Albers, Richard Allen, Getulio Alviani, and the list goes on. These artists were inspired by the optical illusions and have been inspiring others as well.

Bridget Riley Movement in Squares 1961

Abstract Expressionism             Casey Hurley

Abstract Expressionism was an art movement from 1943-1965. Most of the artists were influenced by “the eras leftist politics.”  Abstract Expressionism is a unique type of art that is very abstract, and there is a lot of expression. Abstract Expressionism was very popular during World War ll.

Many artists that are associated with this art period developed in the early 1930s. Jackson Pollock was the most well known Abstract Expressionist and was a key example of Action Painting. His work combined elements of Cubism, Surrealism, and Impressionism. John Graham played an important role in the development of Abstract Expressionism. He was an expert on Cubism and Surrealism, and used his knowledge to tutor young abstract artists.

Although the artwork was still displayed, by the late 50s, Abstract Expressionism lost its place “at the center or critical debate” and another generation was at the beginning of success.

Jackson Pollock #1

Prehistoric Art Claudia Inglessis

For my art movement I chose Prehistoric Art. This art is linked to cavemen, and other early humans. Most of this art is made up of humans and animals, representing the traditions and customs of the people in that time period. The materials used are said to be simple paints made out of natural materials. The only colors that are prominent are black and red. Cavemen also made art by engraving stones.

This is an example of cave art. Art like this is distinguishable, because of the location, color, and images. The location was almost always the walls of caves that have existed for thousands of years. Color was not very important to these artists, because there was not variety in their options. The only paint they had was made out of materials like berries or wet bark. Almost always, cave images portrayed animals interacting with people that were oftentimes trying to hunt them down. The style is distinguishable, because their drawings consisted of lean figures with strange proportions interacting with silhouettes of animals.

This example is different, because it has different colors and patterns. The colors are different because they are lighter and have more variety. The pattern is more structured, because the artist had a better idea of the exact product they wanted. Another difference in this painting is possibilities for creation. Several hands, or only one could have made this painting. It could have been made by an early paintbrush, or fingers.

Deer and Hunters 17,000BCEUnknown Shaman, PaleolithicCave Painting Lascaux, France