Classical Mythology in Abstract Expressionism - Essay Example

?The concepts ical Mythology in art are depicted specifically by different artistic expressions throughout time. These are defined by movements that have occurred in the visual arts and the representations which artists have created of specific pieces of art. When looking at Abstract Expressionists of the early 1940s, it is noted that the Classical Mythology is influenced by the French Surrealists of the 1930s. The concepts which are developed as well as the philosophies that have been created with the techniques have led to a different approach and understanding of the art work as well as how it is able to build a specific statement about the mythology. The result is the ability to understand a different and alternative meaning to the mythology and the representations which it holds in terms of different time frames. The influences of depicting Classical Mythology begin with the thematic work that is accepted with both Surrealists and Abstract Expressionists during both time frames. The main ideology is based on creating the universal theme of humanism that is a part of every experience. The modern artwork depicts this by taking the mythology and relating it to the human experience by representing the mythology from a different perspective. The ideology was to take the idea of humanism and to create a modern approach to the myths that would combine the poetic expression of the artwork and the humanistic ideologies related to the myths. Instead of the stories representing the ancient and mysterious, both artistic movements created a sense of duality with the mythology. This was dependent on the mysterious and the human that combined together to create a sense of poetic meaning with the artwork. By doing this, artists were able to create a sense of meaning through the subject matter which could be depicted in modern society (Bernstock, 1993: 153). The importance of the humanistic approach was not only to express the universal themes of duality between human nature and the myths. This was furthered with the time frame in which the artists were developing the portraits in. Many that were depicting the artwork focused on the social and political agenda of the time, specifically with the movement into modernism. The social and political approach was one which consisted of conflicts in society, stress which many were under because of political agendas and change that was continuously moving forward during this time frame. The themes were based on the tension of those who were living with the humanistic side, as opposed to the political and social agendas based on status, violence and struggle. Depicting these themes became an important aspect of the work in both time frames, specifically because of influences of war, political leaders and social change that continued to move forward through contemporary events and ideas which followed (Bernstock, 1993: 153). An example of the artwork that showed the humanistic side and the social and political stresses came through works such as Andre Masson and Jacques Lipchitz (see Appendix A). The work of Andre Masson, Myth of Sisyphus, shows the French Surrealist viewpoint of conflict and humanism during the time. The myth is depicted by a boulder being rolled up a hill, only to continue to roll back down. This is followed in Greek mythology by a king who moves into power but doesn’t follow through with wisdom, instead ruthlessly killing thousands and betraying the gods. The influence of the 1930s was one which was created through the political agendas leading to war as well as the philosophical belief that there wasn’t meaning behind this. When looking at the painting of Masson, it is able to follow the myth of the ruthless actions and the boulder only going back down the hill. Masson does this by making the boulders appear out of place and time, each which carries the same myth as is depicted in the Greek legends. By doing this, Masson is able to create a link to the political leaders of the myth that deceive the gods to the present day, in which the same boulder carries the same myth and causes the same complexities within society. A similar viewpoint is seen with the sculpture of Lipchitz. Prometheus strangling the vulture is a famous depiction of the Greek myth that brought fire to humans and which strangled the vulture to end suffering between the gods and humans. This sculpture, from 1943, takes a similar thematic material to the work of Masson. The humanistic approach is one which takes out the reverence of the gods and which creates an understanding of the power of men, both in terms of deceit of the gods and in turning away from the myths for human independence. The depiction of Prometheus is one which dominates over the myth, even though in a human form. This can be representative of the human and political struggles and the continuous conflict during the time. Despite the move into Abstract Expressionism, there is a similar them from the French Surrealism, specifically to create an understanding of the humanistic ideologies and the social and political structures that many during the time were trying to overcome. The violence and struggle which was depicted through the artistic works of the 20th century continued with the understanding that mythology had not changed from Greek times and into the present day. The philosophy and beliefs of artists during this time both evaluated the conditions of society and politics, as well as the links which were associated with the time frame. The belief became one of unchanged human experience, specifically which battled with the political and social fields with violence and struggle. The unchanged human experience continued with the powers of the gods or higher entities that continued to cause society to lose a sense of freedom within their own existence. These philosophies of artists continued throughout the time period, specifically with links to the political realm and the state of being which most had in society toward the artwork that was presented. The concept of unchanged human experience was one which not only became important because of the mythology of the gods. Most of the artists in both time frames continued this experience with the understanding of political leaders, corruption in society and social struggle that led the mythologies into a continuous experience and sense of humanism (Bernstock, 1993: 157). The concept of the unchanged human experience and the way in which this was represented in mythology was one of the themes which continued from the French Surrealists to the Abstract Expressionism of the 1940s. The themes, while using different techniques of expression, held the same philosophies and artistic influence. This was done because of the surrounding environment and the observations which were structuring society. This was furthered with interpretations in society that moved through the 1930s and 1940s. These didn’t change in terms of struggle which was occurring. Instead, there was an understanding that the struggle was based specifically on the same philosophical and psychological interpretations that were from Greek mythologies. Passing this viewpoint and philosophy to other artists was first a representation of the type of work which was created in the 1930s. However, observing and noting the same humanistic struggle also led into further evaluation based on the understanding and interpretations of what was occurring during this time frame (Bernstock, 1993: 159). An example of French Surrealism which created an interpretation of the continuation of mythology by men and the way in which society continued with the same sense was through the painting of Salvador Dali, “Metamorphosis of Narcissus (see Appendix B). This painting, from 1937, holds a layer of meanings which combines the present to the mythology of the past. The idea of Narcissus was one which was based on the Greek myth of a man who falls in love with his own reflection and is unable to see the world around him because of this. The 1930s further presented this with the psychological beliefs in Narcissism that were in society. The depiction by Dali shows both a light and dark figure of a hand holding an egg that is blooming, both which reflect the other. The Greek myth in the back which represents the destruction of the time continues with this ideology in understanding how the reflection continues for the time frame. The statement which Dali makes is one which shows that the mythology is a continuous reflection into the present. While progression of philosophies has been made, it links back to the same struggle and initiatives by individuals. The humanistic approach is one which then makes a direct statement about the continuation of the mythology and the understanding that the humanistic struggle is the main philosophy which individuals continue to accept within society. The philosophy of continuation of human suffering was then influenced by painters such as Dali when the turn of the decade was approached. Abstract expressionism of the 1940s differed with breaking the techniques of shape, form, light and dark with the work that was created. However, the idea of building the humanistic approach and the understanding that nothing had changed continued to influence individuals. The importance of this theme is one which shows that, while the technique changed, the Surrealist movement and past ideologies, such as myth, continued to remain an influence to individuals within society. The importance was not with the mythology or with the technique used, but instead to show the continuous theme of humanism and how this linked to the mythology and which remained consistent through each time frame (Bernstock, 1993: 161). An example that held a similar theme was with the painting of Gottlieb of 1941, “Oedipus” (see Appendix C). When comparing the technique to Surrealism of Dali, it is seen that there is not as much contrast of color. Light and dark are lost in the painting and the shapes and lines take on a different format. However, the thematic material remains similar, specifically with identifying the concept of the Oedipus complex that was associated with the mythology of being blinded toward the time frame and what was occurring. This is noted with the graph type lines and the different forms of eyes that are seen in each of the graphs with blank space in between. Gottlieb is able to use the graph to show how each space, or time frame, has a similar humanist approach and Oedipus complex to power, belief in the self and being blind to the realities which are surrounding the individual. Similar to the painting of Dali, there is an understanding of how there is a continuous theme in mythology that individuals can relate to. This experience is one based on how the human experience doesn’t change and how the mythology remains a representation of a complex which an individual has and which is associated with humanism. The same concept of psychology and the Oedipus complex, similar to that of Narcissism in psychology is approached with this painting and the theme used. The result is a deeper understanding of what is associated with both mythology and the contemporary time frame. The concepts associated with the paintings of various artists are one which is found not only through the mythology, but also with taking subject matter and creating it into a deeper understanding of the human experience. Even though there is a difference in the subject matter, it is also noted that the universal themes remain the same, specifically with looking at the human experience and how this remains the same through time in terms of society and politics. The common link between both Abstract Expressionism and French Surrealism becomes based on the use of mythology to depict the human experience and to show that the human ideology never changes. The visionary, metaphorical and poetic treatment of the matter in both terms remains the same. The artists looked at ways to create a deeper meaning that related to the current human condition and to use this as a link to those looking at the artistic works. When looking at all paintings and sculptures of the time, it is noted that the poetic treatment is one which is based on the humanistic approach that each of the artists created (Klingsohr – Leroy, 2004: 2). The concept of Abstract Expressionism of the 1940s and the French Surrealist movement of the 1930s were both known for the distinct techniques and approaches to art. The artists that were a part of both time frames held distinct ideologies of what needed to be created and which techniques would offer the necessary expressions. This was combined with the experimental ideologies that were associated with the movements and the approach which was taken. While both held distinct features, there was a direct link to the movements through certain materials. The use of Greek and Roman mythology in both types of artistic forms were one of the main links which were associated with the movements and the ideologies which they held. The Classical Mythology remained a link by creating expressions of humanism while making a statement that time had not changed the expressions of the human experience. This related to politics, society and the personal philosophies which were associated with each time frame and the beliefs which each held toward the myths which were presented in different art formats. References Bernstock, Judith. Classical Mythology in Twentieth-Century Art; An Overview of a Humanistic Approach, Artibus et Historiae, Vol. 14, No. 27 (1993), pp. 153-183. Klingsohr – Leroy, C. 2004. Surrealism. New York: Routledge. Appendix A: Andre Masson: Myth of Sisyphus (1930) Jacques Lipchitz: Prometheus Strangling the Vulture Appendix B: Salvador Dali: Metamorphosis of Narcissus (1937) Appendix C: Gottlieb’s Oedipus (1941) Read More