German Expressionism was a movement that arose during the first couple of decades of the 20th century. It was often associated with extreme emotional states. Expressionist artists were concerned with creating their own form of reality, rather than the naturalism we saw with Realism and Impressionism. (The term ‘expressionist’ is also usedin a broader sense, to refer to any artwork which deals with strong emotional states.)

Kathe Kollwitz, (German 1867-1945), Woman with dead child, etching, 42 x 48cm, 1903

THE BODY III – 20TH CENTURY DISTORTIONS

Take 5 minutes and make some notes about this work. Trywriting a sentence each for:

Structural frame;Subjective frame;Cultural frame.

Kathe Kollwitz, German 1867-1945, Uprising, 1899, etching, drypoint, aquatint, brush etching, sandpaper.

Kathe Kollwitz, German 1867-1945, Death seizing a woman, 1934, lithograph, 51 x 37 cm

This was a time in Europe where there were several wars (especially World War I) and much suffering. Many images were created as social or political comments. Various printmaking techniques were very popular with the German Expressionists. Woodblock cuts, or woodcuts had a long tradition in art. (Like our lino cuts, it is possible to get very interesting images from simple lines.) The Expressionists used this simplicity, along with dramatic tonal variations, to express an emotional honesty in their work. Prints could be easily reproduced in newspapers or magazines, or many copies of a print made. Etching (using acid to eat lines into the plate, then adding ink) and lithography (printing off a limestone block) was also popular.

Otto Dix (Germany 1891 – 1969) Der Krieg, (The War), Plate 6 of 50, 1924, etching & aquatint20 x 29cm

Dix stated, 'War reduces mankind to the state of beasts, with its hunger, vermin, mud and insane noises'. Dix created a lot of images which showed the horrors of war.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRwWJyy24So

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-PFEbQ5UGc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUXDltQfqSA

Three more images fromOtto Dix’s 1924 series The War; all etchings, all similar sizes(approx 20 x 30cm or so.)

Expressionism wasn’t all death and War: but it was generally concerned with subjectivityand emotional states. As with all other art Movements though, there was a variety in how artists represented their world.

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (German,1880 - 1938) Self-portrait with model, 1910, 150 x 100 cm

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (German,1880 - 1938) Standing nude (caryatid), painted wood, 1909-10,

Primitivism was a feature of the late 19th /early 20th century. This was European art that was influenced by tribal art – masks, sculptures, shields etc. This tribal art came from indigenous peoples of countries that had been colonised by France or England. The tribal objects were brought back to Europe and exhibited. Like Japanese art, this tribal art was enormously influential on many artists. It was thought to be more authentic; honest. It also had a spiritual significance and power (which the Europeans didn’t understand, but recognised.)

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973) Les Demoiselles D’Avignon (The Young Ladies of Avignon) 1907, oil on canvas, 244 x 234 cm. This painting truly shocked people. When Picasso first showed it to friends and colllectors, manydidn’t like it and thought he had lost the plot. It stayed un-exhibited till 1916, and it was many more years before it was recognised as a significant step in the journey of Western art. How could we describe this work?

EXAMINING THE EXAM

From this week onwards, we’ll start looking at HSC questions from past papers. This is to help you get familiar with the way the Board of Studies writes instructions (called rubric), the way they phrase the questions; etc.

Please don’t worry about the actual questions in the Paper I hand out today. The aim is to simply show you what an Exam Paper looks like, and how it’s set out. You will slowly get the hang of how to answer these types of questions. You will improve with practice. That’s why we’re starting NOW to give you plenty of time. If you attend classes; pay attention; attempt to answer questions and contribute in class, you will be fine in the Final Exam. (If you don’t, it will get ugly.)

Lewis Hine, 1874 –1940, USA, Steamfitter, 1920. Gelatin silver print, 24.2 cm ×17.8 cm.

The figure in art has not only been used simply as a body. It can also be also used to help represent a world. A body can be a symbol of humanity generally; or of an emotion or an idea.

Q 1: How does Lewis Hine’s photograph, Steamfitter, 1920 represent social attitudes to progress?

Note: This is an example of a Question 1. You would have 10 minutes to answer it, and it would be worth 5 marks.