Block 9 MODERN ART MOVEMENT-III

• UNIT 1: Dadaism
• UNIT 2: Surrealism
• UNIT 3: Abstract Expressionism
• UNIT 4: Constructivism
UNIT 1: Dadaism
• Dadaism was an avant-garde art movement that emerged during World War I and
reached its peak in the 1920s. It was a reaction against the rationality and logic that had
been shattered by the horrors of war. Dadaists sought to defy conventional artistic and
cultural norms, embracing chaos, absurdity, and a rejection of traditional aesthetic
values. They aimed to challenge and provoke the audience, often using unconventional
materials and techniques.
• The term “Dada” was coined in 1916 to demonstrate the movement that was emerging from the seeming
chaos.
• This Cabaret Voltaire was the meeting spot for many radical avant-garde artists.
• A popular version has been given by Richard Huelsenbeck is that a French- German dictionary opened at
random, which produced the word “Dada” meaning child’s rocking horse or hobby horse. In French, Dada
means a hobby, event or obsession.
• Started from Zurich than spread to New York, Barcelona, Cologne, Hanover, Berlin and Paris.
The main features of Dadaism include:
1.Absurdity and Nonsense: Dadaists embraced irrationality and randomness, using
nonsensical and illogical elements in their art to challenge traditional meaning and
interpretation.
2.Anti-Art: Dadaists rejected the idea of art as a commodity or something to be revered.
They deconstructed and questioned the very notion of art, often creating works that
were deliberately unskilled, provocative, and unconventional.
3.Collage and Assemblage: Dadaists frequently employed collage and assemblage
techniques, combining disparate objects and materials to create new and unexpected
compositions. By juxtaposing unrelated elements, they sought to challenge traditional
notions of unity and coherence.
4.Performance and Happenings: Dadaism embraced performance art and spontaneous
happenings. Dadaists organized provocative events and performances that often
incorporated absurdist elements, audience participation, and unconventional behavior.
5.Political and Social Critique: Dadaism was a response to the political and social upheaval
of its time. Dadaists used their art to critique authority, nationalism, and the social norms
that they believed had led to the horrors of war
Notable Artists
• Marcel Duchamp: (1887–1968)
• Hans (Jean) Arp (1887-1966)
• Francis Picabia: (1879 – 1953)
• Man Ray: (1890-1976)
• Hannah Höch (1889- 1978)
• Raoul Hausmann (1886-1971)
• Kurt Schwitters: (1887-1948)
Notable Works
• "Fountain" (1917)
• "L.H.O.O.Q." (1919)
• The Gift
• Untitled, 1930
Gelatin silver print (solarized)
"Da-Dandy" (1919) by Hannah Höch
• Mechanical Head (The Spirit
of Our Time), 1920, Raoul Hausmann.
Merzbild 1A (The Psychiatrist) 1919

• By Kurt Schwitters
UNIT 2: Surrealism
Meaning of the word Surrealism:
The word ‘Surrealism’ means the disorienting, hallucinatory quality of a dream,
unreal, fantastic and surreal complexities of bureaucracy.
• The word Surrealism was first coined in March 1917 by Guilaume Apollinaire. The term was
commonly used thereafter by the poets Andre Breton and Paul Eluard.
• Andre Breton, Salvador Dali, Giorgio de Chirico, Max Ernst, Rene Magritte, Joan Miro, James Ensor, Andre
Masson, Jean Hans Arp, Alberto Giacometti, Marcel Duchamp, Pierre Roy, Man Ray, Victor Brannor,
• The main features of Surrealism include:
1. Exploration of the Subconscious: Surrealism sought to tap into the subconscious mind and unveil hidden thoughts,
desires, and dreams. Artists aimed to bypass rational thinking and access a deeper realm of creativity and
imagination.
2. Irrationality and Disruption of Reality: Surrealist artworks often challenged the conventional understanding of
reality by juxtaposing seemingly unrelated or contradictory elements. They aimed to create a sense of surprise,
confusion, and psychological tension through unexpected combinations.
3. Automatism: Surrealists embraced automatism, a technique where artists allowed their unconscious mind to guide
the creative process. They practiced spontaneous, unfiltered drawing or writing, letting their thoughts flow freely
without conscious control or censorship.
4. Dream Imagery and Symbolism: Dreams and dream-like imagery played a significant role in Surrealism. Artists drew
inspiration from their dreams, creating fantastical and symbolic scenarios that reflected the mysterious and
symbolic nature of the subconscious mind.
5. Transformations and Metamorphoses: Surrealist artworks often depicted objects, creatures, or figures undergoing
unusual transformations. These transformations served as a metaphor for the fluidity of identity and reality,
blurring the boundaries between the human and non-human, animate and inanimate.
6. Subversion of Rationality and Authority: Surrealists aimed to challenge societal norms, traditions, and the authority
of reason. They sought to disrupt the established order, questioning the dominant ideologies and exploring
alternative ways of perceiving and understanding the world.
7. Visual Poetics: Surrealists often employed poetic and metaphorical language in their artworks, creating visual
narratives that were open to multiple interpretations. Symbolic elements, wordplay, and visual puns were used to
evoke emotions and provoke intellectual engagement.
8. Influence of Freudian Psychoanalysis: Surrealists were greatly influenced by Sigmund Freud's theories of the
unconscious mind and psychoanalysis. They incorporated Freudian concepts, such as repression, the Oedipus
complex, and dream analysis, into their artistic practice.
• Dream like scene and symbolic images.
• Pure psychic automatism
• Unexpected logical juxtapositions.
• Bizarre assemblages of the ordinary objects.
• Automatism and spirit of spontaneity.
• Games and techniques to create random effects.
• Personal iconography through experimentation.
• Distorted figures and biomorphic shapes.
• Subconscious got importance.
• Notable Artists and their Work:
1. Salvador Dalí: Salvador Dalí is one of the most famous surrealist artists. His works often depicted
strange and dreamlike scenarios with meticulously painted details. One of his most iconic
paintings is "The Persistence of Memory," featuring melting clocks in a desert landscape. Dalí's
works often combined bizarre and fantastical elements with technical precision.
2. René Magritte: René Magritte is known for his thought-provoking and enigmatic images. He often
painted ordinary objects in unusual contexts or combined unrelated elements to challenge the
viewer's perception of reality. Magritte's famous works include "The Son of Man," featuring a
man with an apple obscuring his face, and "The Treachery of Images," with the caption "This is
not a pipe" below a painting of a pipe.
3. Max Ernst: Max Ernst was a key figure in the development of Surrealism. He experimented with
various techniques, including frottage (rubbing of surfaces), collage, and decalcomania (pressing
wet paint between surfaces to create textures). Ernst's works often featured fantastic and
nightmarish imagery, such as his painting "The Elephant Celebes" or his collage novel "Une
Semaine de Bonté" ("A Week of Kindness").
4. Joan Miró: Joan Miró's works were characterized by their biomorphic and abstract forms. He
combined organic shapes, symbolic elements, and bright colors to create poetic and playful
compositions. Miró's paintings, such as "The Tilled Field" and "The Harlequin's Carnival," had a
childlike quality that explored the boundaries between reality and the imagination.
5. André Breton: While primarily known as a writer and poet, André Breton was a key figure in the
Surrealist movement. He authored the "Surrealist Manifesto" in 1924, outlining the principles and
goals of the movement. Breton's work sought to merge dreams and reality and explored the
depths of the subconscious mind.
The Persistence of Memory

• Salvador Dalí
The Son of Man
• René Magritte
The Elephant Celebes

• Max Ernst
The Harlequin's Carnival

Joan Miró
Dadaism and Surrealism were both influential art movements that emerged in the early 20th century, but they differ in their origins,
goals, and artistic approaches. Here's a breakdown of the key differences between Dadaism and Surrealism:
1. Origins and Context:
1. Dadaism: Dadaism originated during World War I in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1916. It was a response to the senseless violence
and destruction of the war. Dadaists rejected conventional values, rationality, and artistic traditions.
2. Surrealism: Surrealism emerged in the 1920s, primarily in Paris, France. It was influenced by Dadaism but evolved into a
distinct movement. Surrealists were interested in exploring the unconscious mind, dreams, and the irrational aspects of
human experience.
2. Goals and Philosophy:
1. Dadaism: Dadaists sought to reject and ridicule the established social, cultural, and artistic norms of the time. They aimed
to provoke and shock society by embracing chaos, irrationality, and anti-art sentiments.
2. Surrealism: Surrealists aimed to unlock the power of the unconscious mind and believed in the transformative potential of
art. They sought to reconcile dreams and reality, merging them in a way that would reveal deeper truths about the human
psyche.
3. Artistic Approach:
1. Dadaism: Dadaists employed various artistic mediums, including collage, assemblage, readymades (found objects),
performance art, and unconventional techniques. They often used satire, absurdity, and nonsensical elements in their works
to challenge traditional aesthetics.
2. Surrealism: Surrealists used techniques such as automatic writing and drawing to tap into the subconscious. They created
dreamlike, fantastical, and often juxtaposed images that combined realistic elements with irrational or symbolic imagery.
They aimed to create a sense of mystery and provoke the viewer's imagination.
4. Influences and Legacy:
1. Dadaism: Dadaism had a profound influence on avant-garde art and paved the way for subsequent art movements like
Surrealism, Fluxus, and Pop Art. Its emphasis on challenging conventions and questioning the nature of art and society left a
lasting impact.
2. Surrealism: Surrealism became one of the most significant art movements of the 20th century. Its influence extended
beyond the visual arts and impacted literature, film, and philosophy. Surrealist ideas continue to shape artistic expression
and inspire creative thinkers today.
UNIT 3: Abstract Expressionism
• Abstract Expressionism is a post-World War II art movement that emerged in the
United States during the 1940s and 1950s. It is characterized by its emphasis on
spontaneous, intuitive, and emotional expression, often achieved through
abstract or non-representational forms. Abstract Expressionist artists sought to
convey their inner thoughts, feelings, and emotions rather than depict the
external world. This movement is considered one of the most important
developments in American art and had a significant impact on the international
art scene.
Main Features of Abstract Expressionism

1. Abstract and Non-representational Art: Abstract Expressionist artists moved away from traditional
representational art and focused on creating abstract or non-representational artworks. They aimed to
express their inner thoughts, emotions, and ideas through purely visual means, often devoid of recognizable
imagery.
2. Spontaneity and Gesture: The artists embraced spontaneity and emphasized the act of creation itself. They
sought to capture the immediacy of their emotions and inner experiences through bold, energetic
brushwork and gestural mark-making. This emphasis on the artist's physical presence and action on the
canvas was an essential aspect of the movement.
3. Emotional Expression: Abstract Expressionism was deeply rooted in the expression of emotion. The artists
sought to convey their innermost feelings and psychological states through their art. The artworks were
often seen as vehicles for the artist's emotional release or catharsis, allowing viewers to experience an
emotional connection with the work.
4. Large Scale and Monumentality: Many Abstract Expressionist works are characterized by their large scale and
monumental proportions. The artists used expansive canvases to create immersive and powerful visual
experiences. The monumental size of the artworks added to their emotional impact and the viewer's sense
of awe.
5. Color and Form: Color played a vital role in Abstract Expressionist works. Artists used color to evoke specific
emotions or create visual tension. Forms and shapes were often simplified or distorted, allowing the artists
to focus on the emotional content of their work rather than precise representation.
6. Individual Expression and Subjectivity: Abstract Expressionism celebrated the individual artist's subjective
experience. The movement rejected strict rules or guidelines, encouraging artists to explore their unique
artistic visions and personal narratives. Each artist's work was seen as a reflection of their inner world,
resulting in a diverse range of styles and approaches within the movement.
Key Artists

• Jackson Pollock (1912-1956)

Important terms:
• Action Painting
• Colour field painting
• Abstraction
No. 5, 1948

By Jackson Pollock
Woman I
By Willem de Kooning
No. 61 (Rust and Blue)
UNIT 4: Constructivism
• Constructivism was one of the most influential modern art movements to flourish in Russia in the
20thcentury.
• Influenced from Cubism, Suprematism and Futurism, but it was an entirely new approach of making art
objects.
• The constructivists were involved in different projects in architecture, fashion designing, photography,
graphics, interior designing, literature, ceramics, cinema, photography.
• A new motto was developed “Representation is finished; it is time to construct.”
• the movement nursed the ambition to increase mass production because of which artists explored
decorative and applied arts.
• Kazimir Malevich coined the term the term constructivist art.
• The concept of constructivism had a significant influence on the Bauhaus, a German art and design school
that operated between 1919 and 1933.
• Constructivism also paved the way for later art movements like De Stijl and Minimalism, which further
explored geometric abstraction and simplicity in art.
• Key Characteristics of Constructivism:
1.Geometric Forms: Constructivist artists embraced geometric forms, such as cubes,
cylinders, and cones, to create their artwork. These abstract shapes were often arranged
in dynamic compositions.
2.Industrial Materials: Constructivists incorporated industrial materials, such as metal,
glass, and plastic, into their artwork. They celebrated the machine age and sought to
bridge the gap between art and technology.
3.Functional Design: The movement emphasized the integration of art into everyday life.
Constructivists believed that art should serve a practical purpose and be accessible to the
masses. They designed objects like furniture, textiles, and even buildings, aiming to
create a new visual language for the modern world.
4.Social and Political Engagement: Constructivism was closely tied to the social and
political climate of Russia at the time. Artists sought to contribute to the construction of
a new society by actively participating in the revolutionary efforts. They envisioned their
art as a means of communication and education for the masses.
Key Artists

• Vladimir Tatlin: Tatlin was a leading figure in the Constructivist movement. He is best known for
his design of the Monument to the Third International, a towering structure that was never built
but became an iconic symbol of Constructivism.

• Aleksandr Rodchenko: Rodchenko was a prominent artist, designer, and photographer associated
with Constructivism. He experimented with different media and applied Constructivist principles
to graphic design, photography, and photomontage.

• El Lissitzky: Lissitzky was a Russian artist and designer who played a significant role in the
development of Constructivism. He worked in various mediums, including painting, graphic
design, architecture, and typography, and his innovative ideas influenced many artists of the time
Monument to the Third International
Aleksandr Rodchenko