Cubism and Expressionism
...' can be used to describe various art forms but, in its broadest sense, it is used to describe any art that raises subjective feelings above objective observations. Around 1906, in Dresden, a group of artists, known as Die Brücke, developed Expressionism. Munch, Kirchner, Heckel, Nolde and Marc were all major players in the movement. Cubism was influenced by the works of Cézanne and also by African sculpture. A large selection of African sculptures was brought into Paris (mainly from French colonies). Their simplification form and lack of concern for actual appearance attracted many young artists, Picasso among them. Cézanne was ever increasingly becoming popular in Paris at this time. Cézanne and the African carvers combined to offer a release to the young artists from the tyranny of the whole tradition of Western art which was based upon the intellectual use of appearance as the foundation of art. The origins of Cubism lie deeper than this. Far-reaching propositions had recently been advanced concerning the universe and Mankind’s place in it. Einstein had upset the laws of physics, Darwin had seriously unsettled the Evolution theory; Freud had posed disturbing questions about the mind and so on… In these times, young artist were seeing the world with new eyes. They looked at the world differently to how their parents viewed the world. The effects of Cubism were so far-reaching that its nature/ subject must be considered more importantly. Cubism seeks to reproduce different perspectives or forms simultaneously, as they might be seen by the mind's eye. In Picasso’s “Les Demoiselle d’Avignon” which was painted in 1907, is still considered to be his finest work. It may justly be regarded as the work which, above all others, initiated the modern movements. The painting shows that it began as a brothel scene involving a medical student, a sailor and five prostitutes. As the work progressed the student and the sailor were removed. There is a lot of illusionistic space, spaces that are there but they blend in with the figures to appear to us like they are not there. There are women wearing African masks. In Les Demoiselles Picasso posed and attacked many problems, some of which he was to resolve only during the course of the seven years. The subject such as a brothel scene recalls Picasso’s interest, during his previous periods in the episodes from the lives of those on the margin of society. By analyzing his technique as well as other Cubist painters, we can see the differences between them and the Expressionist artists. You could say that Cubism was influenced by African art as well as other cultures. Edvard Munch led expressionism movement. He showed the most distress in his works and set the benchmark for other Expressionist artist. Expressionism was predominantly a German movement. Munch’s powerful influence on the young German painters inclined them to towards that agonized view which reflects the doubt of the new century rather than its opportunist enthusiasm. Expressionism gained significance between years 1905 and 1918 during a politically and culturally turbulent era of revelation of the profoundly problematic conditions of the turn-of-the-century Europe. The Bridge, a part of Expressionism, maintained an interest in traditional subject matter. The strong line of wood cut, which was seen as a separate and powerful form of art, influenced the paintings of the group. The effects of the new century and WW1 were major influences in the works of the Expressionism. All the new technology and the change ...