Art in Europe from 1900 to 1930

Course Description

Major international changes occurred at the turn of the century in Europe. Industrial and scientific revolutions rocked human knowledge and experience to the core. Freud brought a new understanding of human experience, and the telephone and telegraph connected the world as never before. These and other dynamic changes created a new world. Art has always presented a picture of these changes. Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists in Paris in the 19th Century began depicting this evolution. 20th Century artists such as Matisse, Picasso, and the many “ism” styles developing elsewhere in Europe sought to bring these new ideas to life. Like the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, whose art was disliked and is now very popular, the new artists were looked on with skepticism and disdain. This class will take a critical look at the changes in culture and art in this period. There are reasons and explanations that help us to understand this art. Early 20th Century art is not as daunting as one may think. It is as always, a reflection of new experiences and new ideas. Cubism, Fauvism, Orphism, Futurism, Die Brucke, Der Blaue Reiter, Munch, Ensor, and Dada will be discussed. No previous knowledge of these art styles is necessary to engage in this course. Bring you curiosity and questions. Instructor: Beverly Smith Beverly Hall Smith was a professor of art history for forty years. Since retiring to Chestertown in 2014, she has taught art history classes at IAL and WC-ALL. Since April 2020, she has been writing weekly articles for the Spy titled Looking at the Masters. She is also an artist whose work is sometimes in exhibitions at Chestertown River Arts, and she paints sets for the Garfield Center for the Arts in Chestertown.