20th century expressions I: modes of art-making

Kathe Kollwitz, German 1867-1945, Woman with dead child, etching, 42 x 48cm, 1903.

The 20th Century saw the development of new art-making practices, as well as changes in the way traditional media were used. Up till now, major expressive forms included oil painting; watercolour painting; etching; marble sculpture; bronze sculpture. Architects designed buildings created from stone; brick and glass. These materials were all still used but in new ways; and new materials and approaches were developed.

Amedeo Modigliani (Italian, 1884-1920) Woman’s head, limestone, 68 x 23 x 24cm, 1912.

• The new century was accompanied by new ideas about what art could be; what role it occupied. Since Renaissance times, drawing had been traditionally used as a private thing. It was used to record information; give an accurate likeness; or help work out ideas prior to painting or sculpting. It was not regarded as an artwork in itself, but more as a tool.

Da Vinci, drawings of nudes from behind.

Prior to the 19th century, most people learnt to draw, but by the beginning of 20th century, only artists learnt how to draw. It became regarded as something special. The role of drawing changed and artists began treating it differently. It could be used to do different things, including being regarded as an artwork in itself.

Picasso, Paul Verlaine, ink on paper, 29cm x 21 cm, 1945

Egon Schiele, Self portrait, pencil, gouache, watercolour on paper, 51 x 34cm, 1911

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Once photography became common, it replaced sketching as a tool for recording and observation, and to gather detailed information quickly. It also was of interest as an art-form in itself. It quickly became accessible to most people, just as drawing had been a century before.

Sid Avery, Elizabeth Taylor sunning herself on the set of the film ‘Giant’, photograph, 1955.

An artistic photograph here.

Painting morphed as well. From realistic images of everyday life (Realists; Impressionists) to images which focussed more on the imaginative and inner worlds (Symbolism) to images where the tradition of perspective was dropped or questioned (Japonisme, Symbolism, Cezanne) to images where aspects of design and pattern became increasingly important (Art Nouveau.)

Art Nouveau in Australia: Sydney Long (Australian, 1871-1955), Flamingos, 1905-5, 30 x 61 cm 1905-6, oil on canvas

With the end of the 19th century, we saw the influence of Japanese woodblock prints on European artists. Aspects such as different use of perspective; asymmetry; flat colour; use of strong line; simplified forms, dramatic tonal variation inspired and influenced many artists. These characteristics were very different from European art of the time.

Hokusai, Kirifuri waterfall in Mt Kurokami, Shimotsuke, coloured woodblock print, 36. x 25cm, c.1832,

Various forms of printmaking have a long tradition in Europe, and continued to be relevant to artists in the 20th century. Etching, engraving & drypoint are called intaglio printing. All use a sharp tool on a metal plate which is ‘inked up’ and a printing press used.

Otto Dix, (German, Stormtroops advancing under gas attack, etching & drypoint, 19cm x 29cm, c. 1924.

Relief printing (such as woodblock printing) had also been used for centuries in Europe. With the first World War, artists responded to the changing world around them. Printmaking was an effective tool to produce powerful and dramatic images.

Kathe Kollwitz, (German 1867-1945), The Widow, woodblock print, 30 x 53cm, 1923.

The German Expressionist movementwas concerned with producing strong, dramatic imagery and many artistsused printmaking techniques

Silk screen printing was used in Asia for centuries and introduced to Europe in 1700s. It became really popular as an art-form in the 20th century though, in particular through the work of Andy Warhol and the Pop Art movement. It has also been used for promotion of political messages. In Australia, such issues as Aboriginal land rights; Feminism; Gay rights; anti-Vietnam war; ecological concerns have all used screen printed posters and t-shirts in their campaigns. It is cheap quick & easy to produce a design. What can we say about this image? What might it say about cultural identity?

Andy Warhol (U.S. 1928-1987), Vegetarian Vegetable from Campbell’s Soup II, screenprint,88 x 58cm, 1969.

Marie McMahon, You are on Aboriginal Land, screen print, 64 x 45cm, 1984

This screen printed poster, created to promote the idea of aboriginal land rights, has a totally different relationship to the world; to the audience; to the artist. In what ways is it different?

ResourcesMarsh, Margaret, Watts, Michelle & Malyon, Craig, ART2: practice. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 2005.Blistene, Bernard, A history of 20th century art. Paris: Flammarion, 2001.Some wonderful Japanese prints showing their influence on Monet: http://nga.gov.au/MonetJapan/Theme.cfm?ThemeID=1

Australian 20th century screenprints: MCA: http://www.mca.com.au/collection/work/200718145/

Met Museum Timeline Essay on Printmaking in USA 20th century: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/post/hd_post.htm

Kathe Kollwitz images: http://www.artnet.com/artists/k%C3%A4the-kollwitz/National Gallery of Australia images of Sydney Long: http://nga.gov.au/Google/SiteSearch.cfm?cx=007717403091245101821%3Arj7rgvaps44&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=sydney+long&siteurl=nga.gov.au%2FHome%2FDefault.cfm&ref=