Huge Impact of Primitivism on the Development of Modern Art - Research Paper Example

How has primitivism made a huge impact on the development of the history of modern art? What are the contexts and the characteristics of the aesthetic strategy used by those who explored this? Primitivism has often been described as a form of art that is none Western or art of prehistoric people. Modern art has developed as a result of borrowing or the incorporation of non western and prehistoric form of art into the Western art. Primitivism essentially refers to the art or the cultural artifacts of people or ethnic groups thought to have low levels of technological awareness as compared to the Western world. Primitivism encompasses tribal art, Oceanic art, Aboriginal art, African art and prehistoric rock art. Primitivism is predominantly a Christian Caucasian view that view any form of art that is not Caucasian as primitive. Interestingly, art work from some major cultures like Greek, Egyptian and Roman art are not considered primitive. Islamic art, Chinese art and Indian art are also not considered as primitive art (Rubin, 47). Primitivism has its genesis in the 19th century when it was used in the description of imagery and motif art. Imagery and motifs are usually associated with primitive art. Primitivism first appeared in the Tahitian paintings of Paul Gauguin. Primitivism became a trend that was majorly practiced by German and French artists. Some of these artists were Jacob Epstein, Ernst Ludwig and Picasso. Primitivism has also not been thought to be the preserve of ancient people. It has been used to describe the work of self taught artists known for simplistic paintings. Primitive art from self-taught artists is also known as Naïve art or Outsider art. This kind of art has been seen in the works of artists like Paul Klee (1879-1940), Asger Jorn (1914-1973), Karel Appel (1921-2006) and Frida Kahlo (1907-1954). Primitivism was introduced to the Western world during the age of discovery, when unknown culture and people were discovered. The discovery age also saw the emergence of colonialism. Colonialism made indigenous culture and artifacts accessible to those who liked art who took them and sold them or displayed them as primitive art. Some of the features of primitive art are vision and technique. Art lovers know that they do not need to have a new kind of vision to understand primitive art. Primitive art is also not hard to understand as compared to Western art. When people see primitive art, they seem to be monotonous because they lack perspective; a factor that makes even primitive art of high quality look grotesque. However since primitive art encompasses a broad selection of work, this view does not hold for all primitive forms of art. The absence of perspective is not the preserve of primitive art; it can also be found in Gothic, Byzantine and Egyptian art. The simplicity of primitive art makes it easy to understand. Primitive art is mainly tribal and was usually worked from memory resulting in art work that mirrored the artists surroundings and society (LaGamma, 122). The techniques used by primitive artists seem to be considerably the same. Primitive artists used bone, stone, clay, wood and metal. There is always a similarity in their paintings like colour pigments and their depiction of animals, vegetation and their surroundings. Though primitive methods are different, yet the technique applied is distinctively similar despite the fact that it is applied in different areas. A case in point is the chopping of wood instead of carving by primitive artists. A primitive artist is characterised by good craftsmanship. The work of a primitive artist was largely mechanical. He had to collect, prepare and sometimes manufacture his painting before painting. Globalization and technological innovation have changed this making it easy for artists to obtain readymade art material. The influence of primitive art on Western art began in the 20th century when dealers and artists started purchasing African tribal masks and figurines. This brought the influence of negro art to Europe as was seen in Paris, Berlin, London and Dresden. The trend became universal and in the 1930s Eskimo, Indian and Oceanic art became leading sources of inspiration to surrealists. Paul Gauguin was one of the first artists to be influenced by primitive art. In his quest to escape civilization, he discovered primitive art in Tahiti. His quest for primitivity displayed his desire for more sexual freedom. This was reflected in some of his paintings like The Spirit of the Dead Keeps Watch (1893), Anna the Javanerin (1893) and Cruel Tales (1902). Other artists who were influenced by primitivism were; German expressionists like Emil Nolde (1867-1956), Fauvists like Henri Matisse (1869-1954), Portraitist and sculptors like Modigliani (1884-1920) and Pablo Picasso (Goldwater, 233). The influence of primitivism can also be seen on the influence that African art has made on modern art. Modernist artists were attracted to African art through African sculpture due to the sophisticated approach it has in depicting human figures. A case in point is a sculpture by an Ambete artist. This influence has been seen in the work of European sculptors like Jacob Epstein. Epstein had vorticist associations and was also friends with Matisse and Picasso; artists who were influenced by primitivism. African primitive sculptures exaggerated human body parts a factor that typified African aesthetics and influenced modernist sculpture and painting. Some of the artists who largely ignited the interest in primitive art of African origin were Picasso and Matisse. One of the first American artists to be intrigued by Matisse and Picasso was Max Weber, who moved to Paris and studied painting alongside Matisse. While in Paris, Weber went to Picasso’s where there was a collection of African art. When he returned to the United States, he talked of the African influence he has seen on the works of Picasso, Matisse and other Paris based modern artists. Weber was also influenced by African art which was seen in his paintings that had mask forms put in an abstract way. The paintings of Picasso were first seen in a 1923 exhibit in New York. His paintings were displayed together with his collection of African Sculptures (FitzGerals, 456). Another modernist artist that was affected by African art was Paul Klee. The African influence was seen in his paintings like Ventriloquist and Crier in the Motor (1923) and Comedians’ Handbill (1938). Some of his works have been associated with the works and masks of the Bwa culture in Burkina Faso. Other artists who have been influenced by African art include George Grosz: Berlin Street (1931) and Max Beckmann: Beginnings (1949). Matisse and Picasso continually showed the influence that primitive art of African origin had in their work. Some of the art of Picasso have been associated with the Nimba and Grebo masks in his collection of African sculptures. Te African influence is also seen in Matisse, who had a background of weaving. He owned Kuba cloths from Central Africa. Kuba cloths had been regularly present in Paris art shows attended by Matisse. Kuba were handcrafted fabrics that were woven from raffia palm fiber and used dowries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (LaGamma, 78). In early 20th century, American modernists of African descent, had joined other American artists in the exploration of the more formal attributes of African art. Philosophers like Alain Locke encouraged American artists of African descent to look at African art as a source of inspiration during the Harlem Renaissance. Other works that have been influenced by African Art include; Wilfredo Lam; Goddess with Foliage (1942). The history of modern art has evolved thanks to primitivism and the constant human quest to learn and incorporate the aspects of other cultures and societies into their own. Dealers, art critics and artist, have also attributed to the use of primitivism in the history of modern art. African art and other primitive art have played a vital role in modern art. Primitivism has been incorporated in many modernist art works. Even though artists were the first to be influenced by primitivism, the greatest impact has been felt on sculpture. Some of the greatest works of art that were influenced by primitivism include; Paul Gauguin; The Savage Woman (1893), Andre Derain; Standing Nude (1907), Constantin Bancusi; The Kiss (1908), Ernst Ludwig Kirchner; Woman Dancing (1912), Henri Gaudier-Brzeska; Red Stone Dancer (1913), Georg Kolbe; Assunta (1921), Henri Laurens; Crouching Woman (The Farewell), Jacob Epstein; Jacob and the Angel (1941) and Pablo Picasso; Baboon and Young (1952). The other form of art that had an effect on modernity is fauvism. This kind of art was practiced by Matisse and his fellow artist in Paris. During this period, they were thought of as the most experimental artists in Paris. They were referred to as Les Fauves (wild beasts). They used pure color and exaggerated drawings. Matisse, Vlaminck and Derain have been credited with most of the work of fauvism. The works of these three painters in the early 20th century was seen as similar. But then each had a distinct style of painting that differentiated them from the others. Matisse had worked closely with both Derain and Vlaminck so it was not surprising that their works seemed similar. Matisse’s painting Calme et volupte’ stamped his authenticity as an artist and earned him respect among his peers (Whitefield, 11). It defined fauvism and showed his imaginative prowess as an artist. Some of his paintings that caused a stir during this time were; Joie de vivre and Luxe, Clme et Volupte’. The second one particularly caused a stir when it was exhibited in 1905. Matisse’s talent was well recognized. Derain as one of the young painters of this time, looked up to Matisse and joined him and together they came up with paintings that earned them the name Les Fauves. The artists of this era were creative and imaginative. However it was Matisse who took the lead. In some instances critics could not understand his paintings. He was way ahead of his peers and critics too. One of his most controversial paintings was that of his wife wearing a big hat. He was thought to have over stepped the boundaries of the arbitrary use of colour. However Matisse was not the only Fauve artist to be criticized, Derain also got his char of criticism. During this time, primitivism also influenced the work of artists like Vlaminck. It was Vlaminck who began to put the influence that the primitive sculptures from Africa had on him. This influence was reflected in his paintings and sculptures. His peers Matisse and Derain appreciated his work and Matisse even began to collect primitive art work. It was Vlaminck who introduced Fauvists to primitive art. When the fir that was lit by Fauvists faded, it was the works of Derain and Matisse that could still be remembered from that era (Whitfield, 25). Primitivism has been faulted by critics for using Gauguin as a prime example of how primitivism has influenced modernism. Gauguin has been blamed for depicting sexual freedom on a male perspective and that he had adolescent mistresses, some as young as thirteen years old. They state that by using Gauguin as an example makes primitivism look patriarchal. Other critics also argue that primitivism is a perfect example of how the West is imperialistic, degrading and monolithic; always branding anything other than that that they are familiar with as inferior. Apart from the criticism it has attracted, primitivism has had an adverse effect on modernism and despite being thought of as lacking in perspective and vision, it has and continues to influence modernists both in paintings and sculpturing. As more paintings and works of the artists that pioneered the incorporation of primitivism into modernism continue to be discovered and analysed, the history of modern art continues to evolve. Works cited FitzGerald, Michael. Picasso and American Art. New Haven. Yale University Press, 2006. Goldwater, Robert. Primitivism in Modern Art. Belnap Press. 2002. LaGamma, Alisa. Eternal Ancestors: The art of the Central African Reliquary. Exhibition Catalogue. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2007. Rubin, William. Primitivism in 20th Century. New York: Museum of Modern Art. 1984. Whitfield, Sarah. Fauvism in Nikos, Stangos; Concepts of modern art: From Fauvism to Postmodernism. Thames and Hudson. 2009. Print Read More