Marcel Duchamp

Modernism

A description of why I think his work is an example of Modernism

Marcel Duchamp’s work was in his time brilliant, shocking and arrogant. He was one of the main representatives of Dada Movement. His work was new, innovative and he was arrogant enough to make fun from classic art. He thinks that is time to start a new art that could be more honest. It means he didn’t want to imitate (understand paint) nature or things that already exists in the way that artists before him did. The reason why I think his work is example of modernism is that he needed to redefine art. Because of First World War everything has changed and Duchamp’s reaction on it was absolute ignoring art. For me it seems like art and everything what was before the First War nice changed for him into something superficial and practically false.

A description of the artist’s intentions for and meanings of the work

In fact, Duchamp is the father of Conceptual art. His work was about taking objects, sign them and say: This is art. This ironic side of his work supposed to be a challenge to existing ideas of art, society and life at all.

Even if some of his pieces are now icons of Modern Movement, his work in these days looks simple, limited and tired.

A description of how the work reflects the period in which it was made, social and political influences on the work

He started work after the First World War when mankind was devastated and disappointed of cruelty and hopelessness. So it was very rational to think that world will never be the same. And there wasn’t a reason why art should be. Dadaism is very unwrought style of art which reflects a few years after the war.

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László Moholy-Nagy

The birth of Modernism

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László Moholy-Nagy was born in 1895 in Bácsborsord, Hungary. After his enlistment and law study went to Berlin in 1920 and there met dadaists and constructivists.

In 1923 Walter Gropius wanted Moholy-Nagy to join Bauhaus as photographer. It was before first class of photography in Bauhaus school.

In 1925 was publish collection “books of Bauhaus” within Moholy-Nagy’s book “Painting, photography, film”. He define his photo-montage as “photo-plastic” which he understand as “Penetrating of visual and verbal wit; creepy imagination grew through connection of the most realistic imaginative mediums”.

In 1929 was well known stuttgart’s opening “Film und foto” (FIFO, Film and photography) and László was one of organizers.

Then in 1937 went to Chicago where assumed management of school of design and named it New Bauhaus.

Then in 1937 immigrated to Chicago where he assumed management of school of design and named it New Bauhaus. There, in the USA, he began experimenting with high-quality colour transparency photography, using long exposures to capture evocative abstract portraits of contemporary urban atmospheres.

But the New Bauhaus school closed after a year because of finances. Than in 1939 he opened his own school of design known as the Institute of Design.

A description why I think his work has influenced the 20th Century

I think Moholy-Nagy has influenced 20^th century through his innovative visions in photography, typography, sculpture and industrial design. He also experimented with a photosensitive paper. He exposed it with objects on the top of it, inventing the “photogram”. With the “photogram” he made his abstract works.

Bibliography:

Farthing S., 2009, 501 Great Artists, 1^st edition, London, Apple Press, page 380

Fotografie 20. století Museum Ludwig v Kolíně nad Rýnem, 2003, 1^st edition,                                 Prague, Nakladatelství Slovart, pages 134-135