20th Century Architecture and Art: A Comprehensive Guide
Architecture
Rationalism: The Bauhaus and Le Corbusier
The Rationalist movement emerged in the early 20th century, emphasizing simplicity of form and function. Key figures included Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus school, and Le Corbusier, known for his innovative use of reinforced concrete.
Organic Architecture: Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright championed organic architecture, which sought to harmonize buildings with their natural surroundings. His iconic works include Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum.
Sculpture
The Beginnings: Pablo Picasso and Pablo Gargallo
Picasso’s Cubist sculptures introduced new forms of abstraction, while Gargallo experimented with iron plates to create geometric shapes.
Constantin Brancusi
Brancusi’s sculptures explored the essence of form, often using simplified and stylized shapes.
Julio González
González pioneered the use of iron in sculpture, creating dynamic and expressive works.
Henry Moore and Alexander Calder
Moore’s sculptures focused on the human form, while Calder’s kinetic sculptures explored movement and balance.
Eduardo Chillida
Chillida’s monumental sculptures, often made of iron or steel, evoke architectural structures and natural forms.
Painting
Fauvism: Henri Matisse
Fauvism emphasized the use of vibrant, unmixed colors, often applied in flat areas. Matisse’s works, such as”La Raya Verde” exemplify this style.
Expressionism: Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter
Expressionism conveyed subjective emotions and experiences through intense colors and distorted forms. Key groups included Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter, with artists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Wassily Kandinsky.
Cubism: Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque
Cubism revolutionized painting by breaking down objects into geometric shapes and presenting multiple perspectives simultaneously. Picasso and Braque were the pioneers of this movement.
Surrealism: Salvador Dalí
Surrealism sought to explore the unconscious mind and dreams. Dalí’s works, such as”The Persistence of Memory” are known for their dreamlike imagery and symbolism.
Abstraction: Jackson Pollock
Abstract Expressionism emerged after World War II, with artists like Pollock using spontaneous and gestural techniques to create non-representational works. Pollock’s”drip painting” are iconic examples of this style.