A Little Art History

Artists of the 1920’s and 30’s

There are many well known and well loved artists from the 1920’s and 1930’s. During this time there were tumultuous changes occurring in the field of art and many of its factions.  Most assuredly, it was a very interesting and exciting time for creativity and experimentation.

American Abstraction, first introduced in America during the teens, dominated the art scene by the 1930’s.  When Art Deco was born in the mid 20’s, it changed and forever influenced design over the entire world.  The PWAP (Public Works of Art Project) was created during the early 30’s and was responsible for offering employment to hundreds of artists who created dynamic works that live on today.  The Harlem Renaissance during this time showcased the talents within African-American communities.  Overall, this window of a mere 20 years holds some of our most revolutionary and influential art history.

European abstract painting styles had become popular in the early years of the 20^th century.  In the 1910’s that movement progressed to America and was immediately embraced by the art community here.  Controversy became a way of life for American artists.  Much of American painting and sculpture since 1900 has been a series of revolts against tradition.  By 1930 abstraction was the major art movement, including notable artists such as Jackson Pollock, Man Ray, and E. Ambrose Webster.  In contrast was the realistic work of Norman Rockwell, whose everyday scenes of life captured a huge audience as well.

Art Deco became a popular style in all things creative.  To this day, it influences style and décor.  This movement represented the rapid modernization of the world.  Its name was derived from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925.  Art Deco is primarily an elegant design style in decorative art, fashion, architecture and décor.  Huge-scale designs such as the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building are perfect examples of this enduring style.

The PWAP created in the early 1930’s was brought about by active pursuit of the Artists Union of the time.  So many artists were unemployed that their voices helped create a program of work for hundreds.  Many of the murals created during this explosion of creativity endure today. Even though this program lasted less than one year, nearly 15,000 works of art were completed!  It evolved into the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (FAP/WPA) in 1935 and helped fund some of the best known American artists.  

What is called the Harlem Renaissance was another significant development in American art.  In the 1920’s and 30’s a new generation of educated and politically astute African-American men and women emerged who sponsored literary societies and art and industrial exhibitions to combat racist stereotypes.  This movement included artists from across the country but was centered in Harlem and on the work of artist Aaron Douglas and photographer James Van Der Zee.  It also included Zora Neale Hurston, W.E.B. DuBois, Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer, and Alain Locke.

It seems inconceivable that any other 20 year period could contain such revolutionary upheavals, creative storms and mixed ethnicities as these years.  What is documented contains such richness of style and depth that it is worthy of massive investigation and study.  Art was at the forefront of thought with a huge portion of the country.  Perhaps the Depression made people subconsciously deal with their problems in heretofore unknown ways.  One of those ways was to view creativity from new directions.

The diversity of styles and the subjects depicted in WPA murals are worth the bit of time it takes to search them on the Internet.  Fifteen thousand public works in less than one year is quite remarkable!

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 18 No. 3 — January 2008