Works by Specified Artists: Painting/2D Art
Pablo Picasso: The Development of Cubism
- The works of Picasso are instrumental in the development of Modernism with his exploration of form and perspective.
- Works such as "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" (1907) illustrate the beginnings of Cubism, with geometric reduction of the human figure, hints of primitivism, and a lack of a single viewpoint.
- "Ma Jolie" (1911-12) showcases Analytical Cubism. It features overlapping planes and a limited colour palette.
- "Three Musicians" (1921) represents Picasso's transition into Synthetic Cubism, characterised by flatter space and collaged elements.
Wassily Kandinsky: The Birth of Abstract Art
- Kandinsky was crucial to the modernist movement, his work shifting from figuration to pure abstraction.
- In "Composition VII" (1913), Kandinsky emphasizes the emotional power of abstract forms and colours to create a chaotic and dynamic composition.
- "Yellow Red Blue" (1925) represents his move into geometric abstraction, holding fundamental ideas about the spiritual values of form and colour.
Edvard Munch: Expressionistic Techniques
- Munch's work is born from Symbolism and contributes significantly to the Expressionist movement.
- "The Scream" (1893) is characteristic of Munch's style, using intense colours and bold brush strokes to express emotional angst.
- Munch's work embodies the idea of the 'anxiety of the modern man', a central theme of Expressionism.
Piet Mondrian: Devotion to Pure Abstraction
- Mondrian moved from depicting reality to completely abstract work, embodying the principles of the De Stijl movement.
- "Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow" (1930) captures his stylistic reduction to the essentials: form (lines and rectangles), colour (blue, yellow, red, and neutrals), and balance.
- Mondrian's work aims to reveal the spiritual harmony underlying the chaos of the natural world; this belief in a universal aesthetic underpinned the optimism of the Modernist project.
Salvador Dali: The Surrealist's Eye
- Dali was a prominent figure in Surrealism, utilising subconscious and dream imaginations.
- "The Persistence of Memory" (1931) is a prime example of his style, depicting dreamlike and absurd landscapes, filled with melting clocks and hidden symbolic details.
- Dali's work underlines the Modernist exploration of the subconscious and the bewildering aspects of human psyche.