a SOUP - March 2020
Art Corner: Painting the 20s
- By: Camila

Flappers, dancers, and Jazz - oh my! The 1920s were quite the decade! I'm convinced that the passion and desire for art truly began this year. I mean, the concept and idea to create something out of nothing trails back to when cavemen existed. So, art has always been around. But as of recently, there has been a huge increase in creativity.

The 1920s have been labeled as 'a time of change'. Many artists were challenging themselves to create something that was innovative. If there was one idea that people wanted to see a lot of, it was social progress. I mean, after returning home from the first world war, who wouldn't want to make a change in the world in the name of progress? Speaking of progress, many trends in the 1920s captured ideas that were experimental. Artists like George Luks and Georgia O'Keeffe were celebrated for their creations even more during this period. George was known for his works in realist paintings based on abstraction and nature. Meanwhile, Georgia was known for her experimentation in abstract paintings. Below is a picture of Georgia O'Keeffe's work.



Other styles such as Art Decor were also popular during this period. This style originated in Paris and was known for being electric. The name Art Deco is short for Arts Décoratifs. The first use of the term is attributed to architect Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris. Charles was known as Le Corbusier. The Art Deco style is known for its use of rich colors and geometric shapes. Artists that often drew in this style also drew inspiration from nature, as many other styles have done, as well as favored curved lines. New York City's Chrysler Building is a great example of the Art Deco style.

There was also Expressionism and Surrealism, which originated in Europe, that were considered avant-garde. As well as Dada, which originated in Switzerland and involved the visual arts, literature, and theatre. Salvador Dali was a Spanish painted best known for his surrealist work in creations such as The Persistence of Memory. If you're wondering why this name sounds so familiar, let me show you what this painting looks like. You've most likely seen it before in cartoons, movies, and pictures.



Many artists emerged during this period as it permitted people to find a way to express themselves in a way they hadn't been able to before. There is so much more to cover on art and progress during the 1920s but that would require a whole research paper! The 20s were truly a curious time. I urge you all to do a little research and maybe borrow a flapper dress or two!

Thank you for joining me this month! I hope to see you around soon!

Camila's Sources: Source || Source