Art History: From Neoclassicism to Modernism
Neoclassicism
The expansion of illustrated trips, the revolutionary events in France, and the discovery of important archaeological sites helped shape a new style: Neoclassicism. Artists sought the pure beauty of classical forms, rejecting excessive ornamentation and luxury. Architecture was inspired by Greek models, incorporating Doric columns and pediments with sculptural decoration. Notable buildings in Spain include the Prado Museum in Madrid, the Barcelona Stock Exchange, and the Tobacco Factory of Seville.
Romanticism
Romantic artists proclaimed total artistic freedom, rejecting the norms of classical art prevalent during the 18th century. Instead of Greek and Roman models, they embraced the Middle Ages and proclaimed nationalism over classical universalism. Many Romantic artists, writers, and musicians participated in liberal and national movements, using their works to defend and spread these ideas. Examples include writers like Lord Byron and José de Espronceda, musicians like Verdi and Wagner, and painters like Delacroix and Géricault.
Realism
From the second half of the 19th century, Romanticism was displaced by Realism. This artistic shift stemmed from several causes, including the advance of industrialization, which exposed social contradictions like poverty, child labor, and exploitation. In Spain, Realism influenced painters such as Eduardo Rosales and Joaquín Sorolla.
Architecture of Earth and Steel
From the mid-19th century, two factors linked to the Industrial Revolution led to a renewal in architecture. Firstly, new materials appeared and their production increased. The use of earth and steel, the invention of reinforced concrete, and the popularization of glass enclosures allowed for different and taller buildings. Secondly, the application of earth in construction intensified in the late 19th century with the mass production of steel. Earth allowed for covering wide spaces with few supports, essential for the new establishments needed by industrial society. This also helped prevent fires, common in wooden constructions. Markets, warehouses, factories, and stations rose with new structures. Engineers and architects collaborated in the construction of these buildings. Thus, the architecture of earth opened a new era where technology and art went hand in hand.
Art in the Industrial Age
The application of earth in construction intensified in the late 19th century with the mass production of steel. Earth allowed covering wide spaces with minimal supports, which was crucial for new industrial establishments. This also prevented fires, common in wooden buildings. Markets, large warehouses, factories, and stations were built with these new structures. Engineers and architects collaborated on these projects, marking a new era where technology and art intersected.
Impressionism
In the late 19th century, Impressionism revolutionized the art world and ushered in the 20th-century avant-garde. Its basic principle was that the artist should paint not what is, but what they see. This meant abandoning historical subjects to depict landscapes and outdoor scenes. Painters aimed to capture the feeling or impression of the observed subject, influenced by the light, color, and atmosphere of the moment. They used loose and rapid brushstrokes, with colors often mixed directly on the canvas.
Key Artists
- Édouard Manet
- Claude Monet
- Auguste Renoir
- Edgar Degas
Post-Impressionists
- Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
- Vincent van Gogh
- Paul Cézanne
- Joaquín Sorolla (Spain)
Modernism
In the late 19th century, Art Nouveau, or Modernism, emerged in Europe. Its aesthetic was inspired by nature, aiming to replicate its forms. Buildings featured curved shapes and exuberant decoration. Modernist artists sought to merge all crafts. Modernism developed primarily in Brussels, Vienna, and Barcelona.
Key Artists in Barcelona
- Antoni Gaudí
- Lluís Domènech i Montaner
The Russian Revolution
During World War I, in 1917, the Bolshevik Revolution erupted in Russia, overthrowing Tsar Nicholas II and establishing the world’s first communist state. In February 1917, a revolution brought down Tsarism, leading to interim governments under Kerensky and a democratic republic. Later, a communist revolution led by Lenin followed.
The October Revolution
The Bolsheviks aimed for a government of workers’ and peasants’ soviets. Their program promised peace, land distribution to peasants, factory control for workers, and bank and transport nationalization. Led by Lenin, the Bolsheviks seized power from Kerensky’s Provisional Government. Lenin formed a workers’ government. Stalin established a dictatorship where the Communist Party controlled all state organs. His cult of personality led to the repression of anyone suspected of opposing him. Anyone deemed an enemy of socialism faced repression, affecting all of society, including the Communist Party.