20th century American Art

Pre-Modern Art in USA:American Regionalism

• Art in American during 1920s, 1930s• Rejection of European art styles• Celebration of American values

American GothicbyGrant Wood

Early Sunday Morning by Edward Hopper

Nighthawks Edward Hopper

The Planting by Thomas Hart Benton

Modern Art in America

• Influences– Great Depression– World War II– Immigration of great European artists to

America

After World War II

• New art of the 1950s• New York becomes center of art world• Abstract expressionism comes to

America• Jackson Pollock introduces “Action

Painting”

Woman and BicyclebyWillem de Kooning

Abstract Expressionism

Action Painting

• Type of abstract expressionism• Founder: Jackson Pollock• Influenced by automatism

– unchecked self-expression• Emphasis on creative “act” of

expression, not the result

Jackson Pollock

Number 8, 1949 by Jackson Pollock, 1949

Lavender Mist, No. 1, 1050 by Jackson Pollock, 1950

Pop art

• Reaction against abstract expressionism

• Named after British “popular” art movement

• Featured images from popular culture, machine-made items

• Andy Warhol: leader of movement

200 Campbell’s Soup Cans, 1962, by Andy Warhol (p. 461, ArtForms)

Gun by Andy Warhol

MarilynbyAndy Warhol

Two Cheeseburgers with Everything (Dual Hamburgers), 1962. Plaster. By Claes Oldenburg(p. 461, Preble. ArtForms)

“I am for Kool-Art, 7-UP art, Pepsi-art, Sunshine art, 39 cents art…Menthol art…Rx art…Now art…I am for U.S. Government Inspected Art, Grade A art, Regular Price art, Yellow Ripe art, Extra Fancy art, Ready-to-eat art.”

Claes Oldenburg, quoted from ArtForms, p. 460.

Op Art

• “Optical” painting• 1960s• manipulates line & color• stimulates eye• creates perception of movement

Entrance to Green, 1970, byRichard Anuszkiewicz(p. 451, Understanding Art)

One and Three Chairs,1965,(wooden chair, photocopy of chair, & definition of chair)byJoseph Kosuth(p. 464, ArtForms)

Conceptual art• About ideas

Color Field Painting

• Large areas of color• No obvious structure or focus• Environments of color• Usually very large paintings

Blue, Orange, Red,1961, 90”x81”byMark Rothko(p. 442, Understanding Art)

Photo-Realism

• Impersonal• Highly realistic• Influenced by photography• Usually no narrative significance

(doesn’t tell a story)

Photo-Realism & Chuck Close

Tourists1970, fiberglass,byDuane Hanson(p. 474, ArtForms)

Walk, Don’t Run1976 installationbyGeorge Segal(p. 474, ArtForms)

Earthworks & Site-Specific art

• Usually sculptural• Large scale• Earth work: manipulates natural

materials from the environment• Site-specific: designed for particular

spot

Spiral Jetty, 1970, by Robert Smithson. Great Salt Lake, Utah. 1500’x15’ (p. 466, ArtForms)

Lightning Fields, 1971-79, 400 stainless steel 20’7” polesby Walter de Maria (p. 465, ArtForms)

Running Fence,1972-76,byChristo.18’x24.5 miles.(p. 465, ArtForms)

Rocket to the Moon,1967, collagebyRomare Bearden(p. 10, ArtForms)

African-American artists

Feminist art

• Influenced by female gender• Promotes gender-related issues• Sometimes uses female imagery

The Dinner Party, 1979, mixed media, 48’x48’x48’by Judy Chicago (p. 488, ArtForms)

Guerilla Girls, 1992, Feminist Performance Art.(p. 489, ArtForms)

Women & Dog,1964,byMarisol(p. 458, Understanding Art)

Performance art

• Drama and art combined• Dramatic presentation by visual artist(s)• Presented before audience, sometimes

unsuspecting and unaware• Not presented in formal theatrical

setting

The Social Mirror, 1983, Performance art with 20-ton garbage truckby Mierle Laderman Ukeles (p. 483, ArtForms)

Swimmin’ the River, 1987--, 2552 mile swim,Performance artby Billy Curmano (p. 481, ArtForms)

Folk Art• Art by untrained artists• Sometimes “visionary”

Coke Bottle,by Howard Finster