Art History of 20th Century - Research Paper Example

Art History of 20th Century The artwork has been a way of self-expression for any artist both in the past, present and it shows hope of being there in the future too. Artist use sculptures and paintings to depict what good and wrong that are going on in the society we live. They cover social, political and economic situation of given country or people. It is always up to the viewers to make sense out of artworks, and the artist has no role to play in convincing the audience on what to think or the direction to take when interpreting their works. Jack Pollock was one of the influential painters in American History; he was an abstract expressionist and well known for his drip painting. Pollok made most of his painting on canvas rather than on the wall, and this was to make them more portable. Most of his works were a mixture of controllable and uncontrollable factors1. Lynda Benglis on her part is an American sculptor and visual artist majorly known for her wax painting and poured latex sculptures. She also used drip style to make her works. She was a professional photographer as she had studied artwork at a college. Given that most of her works were sensual in nature, they were ignored for a long time. Given that Pollok paintings were made on canvas rather than on walls, which is common. His paintings were or portable and could easily move to the museum. This work is significant and, therefore, can be easily seen by those visiting the place. Their placement on the wall at points that it could be viewed easily by people of all heights since it’s not too high or too low. A group of viewers can as well look at it at the same as it is large and full2. Pollok believed that the size of his works had a direct relationship with how and to what extent viewers and he would bond and be part of the painting. . Lynda Benglis on the other hand made sculpture that could not be hanging but place on a flat surface for viewing. Her sculpture is smaller compared to the paintings of Pollok. It is only visible to a keen viewer who had the intention of looking for this particular artwork in the gallery. The location of Benglis’ sculpture Batt puts it out of site and away from other artistic works with which they fall into the same category. The disadvantage to the painter and the lovers of their works as it takes long to locate them thus according them with little or no publicity. The sculpture Blatt dated 1969, is one of Benglis’ masterpiece that cause discussion about till to date. It contains latex poured to make a given shape. Latex is material that is more viscous compared to paint and can mold to desired shape by an artist. Benglis uses latex in her works to give them a concrete form that is concrete3. Unlike paint sculptures made out of latex do not require a background or surface to be placed. The painting, Full Fathom Five by Jackson Pollock dated around 1912-1956, is one of the masterpieces he has painted in his art career. He used paint and canvas to bring out his celebrated artworks unlike the latex used by his counterpart4. Pollock needed a hard surface to hold the cloth in place as he painted his works. Since paints are less viscous compared to latex, his works are not of a defined shape that is recognizable but just drawings made on canvas. Full Fathom Five is painted using the drip technique. It is one f the first masterpieces that used this method. The painting is said to have been a creative accident that occurred as a result of Pollock probing and testing methods of painting. It has continuous lines rather than broken lines that are always inevitable in constant readjustments of conventional brush work. He instead poured paint along a stick that was resting in the container. This enabled the continuous beam of pigment to come into contact with the canvas. Blatt by Lynda Benglis, on the other hand, is thought provoking that stimulate various dialogue about formal experimentation and the political nature of art. This work being physical and geological gains a lot of immediacy in the viewers. Benglis as an artist is more concentrated in addressing the issue of taste in her works that are always a puritan strain in the society. Like her counterpart, Lynda uses the pouring technique to attain the sculpture she makes. Her works are therefore in most cases original5. In the making of Full Fathom Five, bushes and knives were used to make patterns, unlike Blatt where brushes did not mean much. Lynda Benglis derived her inspiration from the world around her; she was inspired by what the women were passing through in their career. She made use of the materials that were locally available. She, therefore, can be said to have a defined source of inspiration in which her word. However, Pollock does not do not enjoy this privilege in his work. Instead, Full Fathom Five can be described as a result of accidental thinking. Pollock may not have had an undoubtedly intended painting in mind before starting his work6. But only came to know about what he was working on when it’s in the process thus aiding him on what to add to give it meaning. This may explain the presence of cigarette butts, coins and keys present in the paint that contribute to the paints dense surface and churning sensation. The paintings title was also the suggestion of a neighbor who borrowed it from Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. These made his work have a feel of resistance and different optical pattern. Both works left the usual practice where only brushes were used to do apply paints and make desired pattern by artists, they instead tried new techniques that worked well on their painting and sculpture. Lynda Benglis’ Blatt is one of any series of sculptures she made during her art career. Most of her works follow the feministic and sensational ways that took so long to get the audience where she worked thus slowing her career. Pollock’s works do not touch on sensitive topics that are as either sacred or a handoff for public display. His works appealed to all members of the society revoking their spirit of thinking each time of the show. He changed the art world in any ways therefore making his reputation as an artist remain strong even after his death7. However, some critics have described Pollock’s work as a mere unorganized explosion of random energy which are meaningless. His works may be said to have symbolized liberation from the vices of political, moral and aesthetic vices that were common in those days. In conclusion, the artwork is an excellent and efficient way of passing information without being judgmental. It allows everyone to use their reasoning to figure out the intention of the painter or sculpture with very little misunderstanding. It gives viewers the freedom they deserve when using their imagination as their direction of thinking is not restricted. Artworks educate and entertain at the same time, not forgetting their beauty that decorates their locations. Bibliography Blistène, Bernard, A History of 20th Century Art (Paris: Flammarion, 2001), 34. Kleinbauer, W E. Modern Perspectives in Western Art History: An Anthology of 20th-Century Writings on the Visual Arts (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2008), 118. Kuspit, Donald, A Critical History of 20th-Century Art (New York: State Univ. of New York at Stony Brook, 2008), 86. Gaiger, Jason, and Paul Wood, Art of the Twentieth Century: A Reader ; [accopanies the Open University Course Art of the Twentieth Century], (New Haven: Yale University Press), 69. Ruhrberg, Karl, and Ingo F. Walther, Art of the 20th Century (Köln: Taschen, 2000), 20. Thompson, James, 20th Century Theories of Art, (Ottawa: Carleton University Press), 92. Read More