Modern Art: Lecture 1 (1/10/12)“To be modern is to know what is not possible anymore.” Roland Barthes- Typical idea of modernism: revolution, liberation, new possibilities - Modern = to be self aware of limitationsJacques Louis David: The Oath of the Horatii, 1784 - French revolution, rise of he middle class- Is this a start to modernism? Yes.- Turning back on historical styles of aristocracy (Rococo), like Fragonard’s The Swing, 1765 - Canceling out the past + casting out traditionso Like: curvy nature, diagonals, pleasure, carnal-Neo-classicism- looked to the Greek and Roman classical art; model of order andstructure; remembrance of sculptures from the Parthenon- mimicked forms-Commissioned by agency of King of France-Classical form and theme = new moral and ethic-Modernism = moralism and ethic; throw off decadence and politics-Scene: Roman triplet brothers making an oath to their father to fight in battle against rival clan Curatii; one sister was married to one of the rivals; 2 brothers died and other was victorious; sister is grieving, so the brother kills her with his sword for mourning her lost love-Public duty, civic morality-Draping flows like water over the bodies of the women; classic form of women opposes the men’s rigidity (close to pyramid form), geometry and structure -Male against female- rigidity/flow, moral/immoral-Geometries; circles, squares, triangles-Vanishing point – darkness; severed from Renaissance illusion with the divine-Bodies compressed spatially- confined-Reclaims itself to be a public artRaphael Sposalizio, 1504- Geometries; ordering of space and structure- Perspective; linear and theatrical- Action in front, with temple in background = order- Vanishing point: infinite space within God’s temple = divineDavid Death of Marat 1793- Painted events of the French Revolution- for the citizens - “Year 2” inscribed at bottom; time during the Revolution - Scene: Marat murdered by a woman, Charlotte; stabbed in his bathtub (skin affliction) right below his neck; she claimed to have a list of those to be guillotined, which he approved for the very next day- Stands against the darkness- closing off past and knowing what isn’t possible anymoreDiscussion Section:The idea of modern:Self-awareness of one’s limitsCasting off the past, new beginningsModern vs. ModernityModern: began at RenaissanceModernity: began 2nd half of 19th century to 1960sThe idea/concept begins earlier than the art formDavid’s Oath of the Horatii Form: delineated by lines, smooth surfaces, linear depiction of figures, sculptural figuresColor: men in brighter colors and the light hits them more so that the eye is attracted to them; colors of women muted Shape: men- rigid, triangular (stability and morality)women- slumped, flowing; concavity (weaker, less stable) Space: logical, rational- relatively realistic, structured, no exaggerations; could be standing in the room; everything leads to the vanishing pt.; math createsthe reality of the spaceFragonard’s Happy Accidents of the Swing, 1767Softer, whimsical, blending together, movementDesire and eroticismColors creates perspectiveThe men are longing for her; as the viewer, you can see up her skirt, so you could be one of these men longing for her as wellNature frames the pictureComparison:David’s morality vs. Fragonard’s carnal desiresDavid’s submissive, weak, dull women vs. Fragonard’s active, warm woman whoactivates the