1900-1920

Notes 

Why Hollywood came about

• Thomas Edison created the Motion Picture Patents Company so he would be in charge of the film industry. He owned the patents to all films so companies would have to pay him to have their films shown. 
•  he also painted sprockets in film so people had to pay him to use this technology.
• Edison's patents were really angry because of the large fee's that they had to pay him so the 'patents war' ensued.
•  many people went away to make their films to escape this charge.
• The first film studio was created in 1910.

US Film

• Actors and actresses started to become famous for being in films
• Florence Lawrence - first famous actress
• Theaters became commercial they used to be called Nickelodeons 
• Films showed a lot of racism and historical events.
• Editing changed film completely and allowed flashbacks for better storytelling.

photography and art

• photo's showed ghostly images because of exposure time was long and people would move in between the photo being shot and the photo developing.
• cheap portraits of people were mad because it became cheaper to make photo's.
• some artists wanted to use photography as an art form. 
• A lot of paintings were re created in photo's.
• A lot of soft focus images were made by Alfred Steiglitz,  Edward Steichen, 
  John Dudley Johnston and Wilbur Porterfield
      to create the soft painting techniques in Japanese painting
• The Japanese had a massive influence on him and a few other photographers at that time.
• out of focus, soft photos photos referenced impressionism which was inspired by Japanese painting. 
• pre raphalite work was also referenced within photographs.
• Nudes started being used like they are in paintings. 

Photography as document

• Alfred Stieglitz- shows upper and lower class he used really good composition.
• photos were made that showed children in the work house this promoted campeigns against social issues at the time. 
• In France a photo was made that shows a woman jumping. in the pgoto she is in mid air but shutter speed didn't exist when it was created but the photo exists.
• Photography shows the changes in fashion.

Modern art

• Art started being used as decoration
• Abstract came from impressionism
• there was a gradual move from realistic to abstract.
• Picasso was influenced by African tribal art.
• Picasso created art that couldn't be created with a camera.
• he started to collage using found materials. 
• Cubism was the centre of all art around that time.
• it was short lived in the development of modern art. 
• German expressionism was created more to evoke emotion.
• Futurism started in Italy.
• Anti art, art was created (Dada) in response to the war
• news didn't show the bad side of the war because it went against the moral of the country.
• so photographers would use photography to show the real side of the war (deformities and injuries)

1900-1920

• The Twentieth century began with optimism as people were looking to the future (new technology) 

Research task

Research Art Photography in the early 20th. Century.

In the early 20th century the Kodak introduced the Box brownie camera, this allowed little snapshots to be taken. This also made photography a lot cheaper so artists decided to use this to their advantage and started to create photographs for artistic purposes rather than for documentation or portraiture. A lot of masterpieces such as vermeer's paintings (figure 1) were re created within photography (figure 2), this was done to prove that photography was a creditable form of art. The artists that did this called themselves "Pictorialists."

Aligning themselves with the aspirations of contemporary movements in painting, the pictoralists were able to make the point that they were practicing a fine art in photography.[1]

Jan Vermeer,The Art of Painting, c. 1666-73 Oil on canvas

Richard Polack – the Artist and his Model 1914.

Alfred Steiglitz, Edward Steichen, John Dudley Johnston and Wilbur Porterfield were all photographers in the early 20th century and they created photographs inspired by the impressionist art movement. The impressionist movement was heavily inspired by Japanese paintings so you can also see the influence from that within their photographs. Their photographs were very subtle and soft  creating a more abstract and ambient look as seen in (figure 3), much like the pioneer of impressionism Monet's work (figure 4). 

In the fall of 1890, George Davison gave a paper...called "impressionism in photography." He aimed to connect modern photography with modern art, explaining that the 'newer school of photographers" and "the body of painters known as impressionists" embraced the same principles...[2]

 (figure 1) John Dudley Johnston. Liverpool—An Impression, 1906. 
Gum bichromate print. Royal Photographic Society, Bath. England. 
 

(figure 2) Claude Monet, San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk, 1908–1912, Oil on canvas

[1] Edited by: L Warren, Pictoralism in Encylopedia of twentieth century photography, volume 1, Routledge, 2006. P 1263   

[2] Edited by: J Hannavy, Impressionist photography in Encyclopaedia of Nineteenth century photography, Routledge, 2008. P 737 

Propaganda and the Second World War (30's & 40's)

Notes

Nazi propaganda art

• in Nazi propaganda flags were used as part of bringing the nation together. Branding and advertising also used flags and symbolism.
• swastika was originally an indian sign for piece but the nazis took it and used the symbol in a totally different light and they used it to represent them. It is now seen as a bad symbol and is often not used in modern day life.
• propaganda was used as a form of advertising and preparing people the german people in advance for what was going to happen during the war. 
• a lot of propaganda posters used the same font, this font has became iconic of propaganda art. 
• All of the Nazi propaganda idolised Hitler (image showing hitler with light beams behind him, looks like Jesus Christ)
• Everything in Germany around this time was trying to convince people that what they were doing was right. For example books were written about being agains the jews and art work was making jews look bad.
•  A lot of modernist degenerate art was used. It was very popular in propaganda art.

Anti Nazi propaganda 

• left wing magazines showed a lot of anti nazi propaganda.
• they often played on words and used a lot of visual puns.
• Charlie Chaplin made a spoof of the film Triumph of the will (1935) The film was about hitler making a speech to the people of Germany. Chaplin made the spoof in protest of Nazi Germany.
• Henry Moore used art to document how war effected peoples lives hard hitting  horrible imagery made life at this time look like hell.

Art used for recruitment

• Recruitment used a lot of strong graphics
• These posters played a large part in equality for women. as it was getting women out of the house and working. Doing the jobs to keep society going whilst the men went away to fight.
• it was a big advance for feminists but sexism was still going strong as shown in a lot of posters.
• Keep calm carry on posters were made incase of an invasion to help people stay calm. They were never used because we weren't invaded. They were discovered years later and are now iconic artwork.

Research task

research Illustration, graphics and posters in the second world war

During the second world war posters were used for many different things  but they were mainly used for advertising propaganda.  Propaganda was used for many reasons but it was used predominately for preparing the civilian population for what the army was planning to do. It also was used to get people on side and persuade them that what they were doing was right even if what the army was fighting for wasn't quite right. For example in Germany the Nazi propaganda would depict the jews representing them in a bad light so the people of Germany would be more accepting of what hitler was doing. (Figure 1) shows a  cartoon style Jewish man and it could be said that within the image he looks very cunning and evil. 

The Nazis wanted to persuade Germans that jews were an inferior race so that they could carry out their plan to segregate and exterminate them. Posters depicting jews as ugly bankers, taking money from honest people. As the war went on the depictions of jews became less human. [1]

(Figure 1) 1937 publication advertising the Der ewige Jude exhibit.

In  Britain propaganda was used in a very different way. It was used in a much more positive light as it was made to spread good moral to the country.These posters would often feature positive motivational messages such as 'Let us go forward together' as this was what kept the country optimistic. The propaganda also played a large part in recruitment especially for women as most of the men were away fighting and they needed people to work in the shops and factories. This was a great step in equality for women. Rather than being sexist towards women these posters would speak highly of the women with slogans such as 'Women in the war, we can't win without them' as seen in (figure 2,) this was to motivate the women even more to start working. The colours used in this particular poster are the colours of the british flag this would promote patriotism and make the women feel proud to work for their country. 

as in Britain, the role of women both in services and factories was publicised. [2]

Although women had been working in factories for the previous 200 years, they often had to different work from men. The increase of female workers in the 1930's and 40's allowed them to work on equal terms with men, often performing the same jobs. [3] 

 

(figure 2) Propaganda poster, 1942 

[1] SAMUELS C, Propaganda, Brown bear books limited, 2013 p.16 
[2] MOORE C, Propaganda prints, A&C Black publishers Limited, 2010 p.156
[3]GUY J, 30's and 40's Britain, ticktock media Ltd, 2008 p. 23

19th Century

The industrial revolution and empire notes

Technology and engineering

·      Steam engine created and the first steam powered printing press was created in 1841

·      The times newspaper owned 2 steam printing presses so daily newspapers were released and mass production began.

·      Newspapers were originally very text heavy containing little to no illustrations.

·      Etchings allowed images to be used in newspapers.

·      Factories and farms used steam machinery.

·      Steam was also used for motion. Trains opened up transport so communication and trade was faster and easier.

·      Photography was invented two different ways around the same time

·      Pinhole or camera obscurer- Henry Fox Talbot and mirror photography- Daguerre

·      War between France and Crimea 1853-1856 conflict between the Russian Empire

·      Flags were very important in art around this time as it inspired people to be more patriotic and support their country.

·      France and Britain became allies because of this war.

·      It was the first war to be recorded on a daily basis because of telegraphs.

1855

·      First photographed war

·      Avoided photographs of the dead to keep up moral

·      The aftermath of the war was recorded in photos-Valley of death

·      Rodger Fenton created these images his camera was the back of a van

·      Prints were made from the photographs by artists for reproduction and printing

American Civil war

·      2^nd Half of the 19^th century

·      It happened after America became independent.

·      Slavery was very apparent and there was a lot of abuse shown towards the African American slaves.

·      Mathew Brady- civil war photographer

·      Images began to loose their impact (the novelty wore off) because there were too many images being made

1851- The Great Exhibition

·      East India trading company belonged to Britain

·      The Indian influence was massive on British textiles

China

·      China produced lots of goods that were especially for Europe as the Asian style was in fashion in Europe

·      These goods were not used in China they were adapted to suit a more British taste.

·      It got out of hand and almost everything even guns had an elaborate Asian pattern on it (just because they could)

Romanticism

·      This art movement was very much against industrialization

·      It celebrated nature

·      Paintings became smaller and more affordable for middle class people so they could have them in their homes.

·      These paintings made everything look more pretty and romantic.

·      This art movement was against machinery because it was putting the working class out of jobs

·      The countryside became empty and the towns and cities became packed because of industry.

·      Charles dickens books showed the reality of the conditions that the working class lived in.

·      William Morris was against all forms of industry so he created all of his art by hand (Chinese influence) 

·      Pre Raphaelite art showed good morals they often showed how work is good. (shown in happy light images)

·      In France their art showed how things really were for people (dark and dreary)

Research task

The reaction of ‘Romanticist’ visual artists to the industrial revolution in the 19^th Century

The art movement of romanticism was all about showing nature and romance within art. Many areas of the creative world took part in this movement for example poets writers and all parts of visual arts were united because of this movement. The movement was very much against the world becoming industrialised and they showed this within their arts by creating images only depicting nature and all natural forms of life. Some artists such as William Morris was so against industrialisation and machinery that he would create all of his pretty, complicated floral designs (figure 1) by hand. 

Inspired by his love of mediaeval art and design, Morris set out to revive the traditions of craftsmanship which, in his mind, had been lost during the Industrial Revolution.[1]

(figure 1) William morris, floral bird pattern

Within the romanticism period some artists were more accepting of industry for example one artist J M W Turner often used vibrant colours to help show the beauty of nature and more dulled down colours to show industrialisation. He used colour in a more of an abstract way to show the natural forces (weather) on earth. He painted in a way that gave a look more towards abstract or impressionism. MW Turner would also attempt to show metaphors in his work, for example in his painting 'Rain, Steam and speed' (figure 2) He shows nature and the industrial world coincide together within one image. The colours help to separate the two metaphors that he is trying to show. 

Like Rain, Steam and Speed, the fighting temeraire (figure 3) seems to involve a muted dialectic between natural and mechanical power.[2]

(figure 2) J M W Turner,  Rain, Steam and Speed,1844

(figure 3) J M W Turner,The fighting temeraire, 1839

[1] William morris- Artist, Philosopher, Poet and Designer. Pdf on web page, http://www.william-morris.co.uk/Morris%20History.pdf (last accessed 21/02/2014)
[2] G Finley, Angel in the sun: Turner's vision of history, McGill-Queen's university press,1999.p 145.

The Renaissance in Europe: Hieronymus Bosch

The renaissance in Europe: painting 17^th and 18^th centuries

 Notes

• ·      1400’s to the early 1600’s
• ·      This era involved a lot of science, literature and visual arts.
• ·      Considered as a bridge from medieval to modern times.
• · Step up in culture- artists became famous for their art for the first time.
• ·      Humanism- central to the renaissance
• ·      It started in Florence, Italy because there was more money to create luxury goods.
• ·      Sponsored by wealthy people (the Church of Rome)
• ·      The artists that designed the cathedral created the first drawings using depth and prospective properly.
• ·      Trumpe le oil- super realistic drawings that look 3D
• ·      Later on the Catholic Church didn’t allow any naked bodies in the paintings where as this was accepted in the early years of the renaissance.
• ·      The first use of studio lighting was in the painting ‘the dream of Constantine’ by Piero Pella Francesa (1452-1466) 
• ·      Extreme perspective used for the first time in ‘The dead Christ’ by Mantegna.
• ·      Photo realistic painting started and wealthy people started to get portraits of themselves painted.

Artists

• ·      Artists started to fall out with the church so started to paint more mythical and symbolic paintings.
• ·      ‘The bonfire of the vanities’ (1487)- all items of decadence and vanity were confiscated and burnt a lot of paintings were burnt.
• ·      Leonardo da Vinci created a lot of anatomy studies.
• ·      Michelangelo Buonarotti was a sculptor but he became more famous for his paintings in the Sistine chapel

European painting beyond Italy

•    Because of trade routes more countries started using oil paints- created more detailed images

• Hieronymus Bosch began painting and created surrealism  (Dali was inspired massively by Bosch)

 The Reformation

• ·      Protestants vs. Catholics – protestants got fed up of the indulgence and corruption of the Catholic church.
• ·      Education was becoming more prevalent and books were becoming more affordable.

China

• ·      Printing started 1287
• ·      Wood block printing came to Europe
• ·      Moveable type worked well in Europe but not in china
• ·      Guttenberg printing press
• ·      Innervation in technology but not in style – a lot of detailed printing was still used in books.
• ·      Albrecht Durer created a lot of wood cut images.
• ·      Literature spread rapidly because of printing.

 Research task

Choose one of the following:-

1. Look at images that depict wealth, property   and class from the17th. And 18^th. Centuries.
2. Compare the paintings of Vermeer and Rembrandt, particularly relating to their methods of lighting in their subjects.
3.   Compare the  18^th. Century satirical printed illustrations of William Hogarth and James Gillray.

 I chose to research Hieronymus Bosch for this topic.

Not much is known of Hieronymus Bosch’s early life although it is known that he changed his name from Jeroen Van Aken to Hieronymus Bosch in tribute of his home town. It is thought that he was trained by his farther who was also an artist.[1]

Hieronymus Bosch was a very successful painter during the renaissance and he is most known for creating weird images so weird in fact that there is speculation about weather they were created under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs[2]. When examined closely it is clear the subject matter in his most famous work ‘The garden of earthly delights’ (figure 1) is not at all stereotypical of the period showing things such as people with plants growing out of them. The subjects of his paintings could also be described as gothic as they were pretty dark. Bosch’s work has been analysed and looked at alongside Freud’s theories many times to try and find a deeper meaning but a conclusion has never been found as explained in this quote. 

“Modern psychology may explain the appeal Bosch’s pictures have for us, but it cannot explain the meaning they had for Bosch and his contemporaries. Likewise, it is doubtful that modern psychoanalysis can help us to understand the mental process by which Bosch developed his enigmatic forms.”[3]  

(Figure 1)- The Garden of Earthly Delights, between 1480 and 1505, oil on panel

All of Bosch’s paintings have very strong symbolic messages. At a first glance his pieces look quite religious and heavenly, but at closer inspection it is clear that the painting is representing the exact opposite of heaven. The demonic evil creatures can be found within the random strange scenarios depicted in his images seen in figure 2.

Hieronymus Bosch became extremely popular for his large landscapes featuring fantastic, unearthly beasts and nightmarish visions representing the sins of human race and the torments of hell[4]

(Figure 2) The triumph of death

 Bosch was the creator of the surrealist genre and in later years artists such as Salvador Dali have taken great inspiration from his work and ideas. Dali is the artist that made the surrealist genre famous and a lot of people think that he created it. Although the two artists were around 450 years apart they were surprisingly similar even down to the tonal qualities.

My body was absent from my personality, so to speak, and I felt myself turning into one of those fantastic figures of Hieronymus Bosch, of whom Philip II was so passionately fond of[5]

---

[1] S Hodge, Art: Everything you need to know about the greatest artists and their works, Quercus (6 Feb 2014)

[2] W Bosing, The complete paintings Bosch, Taschen, 2004, p.8

[3] W Bosing, The complete paintings Bosch, Taschen, 2004, p.9

[4] S Hodge, Art: Everything you need to know about the greatest artists and their works, Quercus (6 Feb 2014)

[5]S Dali, The secret life of Salvador Dali, 1993.p 199