Margaret Preston - Essay Example

Preston and other Female Artists In the 20th century, three female artists proved to be very consequential in art. Their style was unique and they depicted indigenous art through modernism. Their art works are phenomenal in defining the perception of art from the three different females of exemplary art work. Much focus is given to Margaret Preston, who made incredible contribution to the field of art. This paper will highlight the key issues in both readings, emphasizing the critical issue s highlighted in the paper. Analysis of ‘why I became a convert to modern art’ This articled begins by highlighting the biography of Margaret Preston, one of the overly talented artists in her era. Born in 1855, she would become one of the influential artists in the in the 20th century and the end of the 19th century (Stephen, Mcnamara, & Goad, 2006:66). In the beginning of the 20th century she moved to London. In the years that followed she visited France, Germany and Spain. At the age of forty eight she began writing anecdotes concerning modern art. In one of these anecdotes, she described how her mother discovered her talent at the age of twelve. At such a tender age, she exhibited her ability to depict objects in a way that resembles the actual object. This depicted her interest in surrealism, an attitude that she nurtured for the first after discovering her talent (Dixon, & Kelly, 2008:56). In a bid to nurture the young girl’s talent, the mother opted to enroll her in the traditional art school that offered her with training on how to use different art elements in promoting different artistic principles (Stephen, Mcnamara, & Goad, 2006:67). All through this period, it became evident that she depicted different objects in the indigenous nature, while making her a realist. She settled for Munich, but met the disappointment after encountering realists who had stopped active depiction of the realism ideals alongside ardent modernists. At this point of her career life, she valued realism and disregarded modernism. Although she refuted most of the modernist ideals of the time at first, the first six months were enough for her to identify aspects that she found compelling in German art (Dixon, & Kelly, 2008:56). The numerous art exhibitions organized in Germany served as the most critical motivation for her to begin to appreciate the artistic ideals of the modernists. After relocating to Paris later, she encountered the triumphant nature of realism. Apparently, there were many realists in Paris, who had not abandoned their ideals to form part of the modernists (Stephen, Mcnamara, & Goad, 2006:68). Summary of ‘Preston at Home’ Modernism and Neo-colonial Periphery Margaret Preston implemented precise artistic approaches to establish the importance of different characters in the society. During that time, Emily Carr and Irma Stern followed suit in providing artistic representations to emphasize on the theories of nature before and after the colonial period, and the events emanating from such transitions (Butler, 2005:201). Arguably, the three female artists established on the event of maturation to civilization in their specific societal settings. They successfully criticized the processes of colonization in relation to modernity and decried on the social inequities in their societies. Further, the artists observed freedom and equality as essential and emphasized on the ideology of emancipation from the antisocial practices of modernity through their artistic presentations. Their pictures reflected on the application of modern primitivitism through the reflection of past artistic practices, the foregoing cultural beliefs and norms. The practices affected the society as the artist reflected on the past colonial practices, but established little reflection of the diverse cultural practices in the human societies despite the fact that their representations established cross-border practices (Butler, 2005:202). Seemingly, the artists did not establish any adventurous outcomes among the diverse societies. Similarly, they deviated ascertaining on any mythic, gender variations, and creative forces among these communities. The artists successfully used the colonial era representation of people of localized cultures, and established scientific and civic studies on the leadership practices, the romantic correlations, and the differential phenomenon of welfare interventions. Arguably, the artists lived at a time when societal practices were all a reduced edge to derive any significance. Home and away The three artists were affected by the war but held importance to their art works as well. They learnt new things during the war and established them into pieces of art. After the war, the women retreated to their new found homes, for example Margaret Preston married and went back to Sydney as the others followed suit but in different locations and social divisions (Butler, 2005:207-8). Arguably, the three artists did not halt their dreams to implement social changes as they presumed to art work after the war. Through primitive practices, the artists retreated slowly to the metropolitan status. Eventually, they successfully adapted to the systems and derived creative releases of the series of the events and social changes in the colonial era, a comparison that involved different communities. These artists derived limited reflection their native societies as the different practices in the different societies shaped different attributes that led to nurturing of different artistic approaches. Hunters and Collectors Carr’s collections ranged from Canadian artifacts to Indian curios. Carvings and paintings were among the artists’ collections (Butler, 2005:207). The trio successfully derived and ascertained different cultural practices among from different societies in the global perspective. Arguably, the three female artists established on the event of maturation to civilization in their specific societal settings. They successfully criticized the processes of colonization in relation to modernity and decried on the social inequities in their societies. The three female artists depicted in the reading practiced frontier tourism, an aspect that enhanced their art. Stern, one of the female artists highlighted was a tourist within her Swaziland region, a fact that made her encounter numerous objects and scenarios that could enhance her art (Butler, 2005:205). Similarly, Pretson travelled widely, and took special interest in the nature that connected here to the different natural scenarios of aboriginal nature that they depicted in their artwork. Since the artists had taken time to tour their home regions, they understood the diversity that surrounded the m. they formed a connection with nature compelling them to depict it in multiple artworks. The fact that these artists were always on the move, presented them with multiple opportunities of interacting with a vast range of people in different settings, an aspect that they exhibited in a vast range of their works (Woollacott, 2003:78). Carr had indulged in extensive missionary work that helped her become acquainted with nature. Her visits were critical in helping her gain access to different anthropological aspects of art in the previous era. All the three artists benefitted from a diverse range of literature on anthropology. A comparison of the ideas that the artists had acquired in the indigenous setting is critical in determining the inherent changes in the works of the artists when they moved into the metropolitan centers. For example, the indigenous ideologies and connection to the aboriginal art determined Preston’s perception, after relocating to Paris later, where she encountered the triumphant nature of realism (Butler, 2005:206). Apparently, there were many realists in Paris, who had not abandoned their ideals to form part of the modernists. The three artists described above saw the need of collecting indigenous arts to enhance t heir diverse understanding of art and collecting samples. Conclusion As described above, arguably, the three female artists established on the event of maturation to civilization in their specific societal settings. They successfully criticized the processes of colonization in relation to modernity and decried on the social inequities in their societies. Seemingly, the artists did not establish any adventurous outcomes among the diverse societies. Similarly, they deviated ascertaining on any mythic, gender variations, and creative forces among these communities. Since the artists had taken time to tour their home regions, they understood the diversity that surrounded the m. they formed a connection with nature compelling them to depict it in multiple artworks. Bibliography Butler, R. 2005. Radical revisionism: an anthology of writings on Australian art. Fortitude Valley, Qld, Institute of Modern Art. Dixon, R., & Kelly, V. 2008. Impact of the modern: vernacular modernitities in Australia 1870s-1960s. Universi ty of Sydney, N.S.W., Sydney University Press. Stephen, A., Goad, P., & Mcnamara, A. 2008. Modern times the untold story of modernism in Australia. Carlton, Vic, Miegunyah. Stephen, A., Mcnamara, A., & Goad, P. 2006. Modernism & Australia: documents on art, design and architecture 1917-1967. Carlton, Vic, Miegunyah Press. Woollacott, A. 2003. To try her fortune in London: Australian women, colonialism, and modernity. New York, Oxford University Press. Read More