POST 04: Protomodernism

Painting of "The Family" by Gustav Klimt.

Protomodernism is what preceded modernism (Proto meaning primitive or original). Its an interesting movement that truly shaped arts today. It is believed to have started in 1897 with the Vienna Secession, and unlike any other movement that we've seen so far, it took place in Eastern Europe with Austria. There are several similarities with the other movements that we've seen precedently due to their large influence ( Arts of Crafts and Art Nouveau) such as the rejection of the Victorian historicism and that there was an unity among the arts. The unity among the art during the Vienna Secession, a design revolution, was greater and stronger than the other movements in a sense that the Secessionnists really shared the same belief that "decorative motifs are carriers of meaning and not necessarily antithetical to artistic expression" and that they were really fed up with their academic institution/ previous artistic movement. The artists that were fed up became a group of nineteen that were trying to be unorthodox and experimental with their different type of works. The unity between them was shown with the construction of the Secession building that was designed in Vienna, by Josef Maria Olbrich, an architect. The Secession Building in Vienna, Austria. The arts really went hand in hand in some works when it came to the construction of the Secession building: " The Secession Building was formed from pure geometries; it had glistening white walls, and several flat planes that were then turned over to artists for decoration". This design revolution really preceded what we call now modernism in a sense that these artists wanted to part away of the traditions and take a new approach that would be significant and timeless, because they all had that feeling that "art could touch, revive, and improve all aspects of life". " Ver Sacrum" meaning "the Rite of Spring" is emblazoned on the signature building of the design revolution which is the Secession building. This phrase symbolizes that a new era in design has come and that artists parted from the historical styles. " Ver Sacrum" meaning "the Rite of Spring" is emblazoned on the signature building of the design revolution which is the Secession building. This phrase symbolizes that a new era in design has come and that artists parted from the historical styles. " Ver Sacrum" meaning "the Rite of Spring" is emblazoned on the signature building of the design revolution which is the Secession building. This phrase symbolizes that a new era in design has come and that artists parted from the historical styles.

Protomodernism is what preceded modernism (Proto meaning primitive or original). Its an interesting movement that truly shaped arts today. It is believed to have started in 1897 with the Vienna Secession, and unlike any other movement that we've seen so far, it took place in Eastern Europe with Austria.

There are several similarities with the other movements that we've seen precedently due to their large influence ( Arts of Crafts and Art Nouveau) such as the rejection of the Victorian historicism and that there was an unity among the arts. The unity among the art during the Vienna Secession, a design revolution, was greater and stronger than the other movements in a sense that the Secessionnists really shared the same belief that "decorative motifs are carriers of meaning and not necessarily antithetical to artistic expression" and that they were really fed up with their academic institution/ previous artistic movement. The artists that were fed up became a group of nineteen that were trying to be unorthodox and experimental with their different type of works. The unity between them was shown with the construction of the Secession building that was designed in Vienna, by Josef Maria Olbrich, an architect.

The Secession Building in Vienna, Austria.

The arts really went hand in hand in some works when it came to the construction of the Secession building: " The Secession Building was formed from pure geometries; it had glistening white walls, and several flat planes that were then turned over to artists for decoration".

This design revolution really preceded what we call now modernism in a sense that these artists wanted to part away of the traditions and take a new approach that would be significant and timeless, because they all had that feeling that "art could touch, revive, and improve all aspects of life".

" Ver Sacrum" meaning "the Rite of Spring" is emblazoned on the signature building of the design revolution which is the Secession building. This phrase symbolizes that a new era in design has come and that artists parted from the historical styles.

" Ver Sacrum" meaning "the Rite of Spring" is emblazoned on the signature building of the design revolution which is the Secession building. This phrase symbolizes that a new era in design has come and that artists parted from the historical styles.

" Ver Sacrum" meaning "the Rite of Spring" is emblazoned on the signature building of the design revolution which is the Secession building. This phrase symbolizes that a new era in design has come and that artists parted from the historical styles.

" Ver Sacrum" meaning "the Rite of Spring" is emblazoned on the signature building of the design revolution which is the Secession building. This phrase symbolizes that a new era in design has come and that artists parted from the historical styles.

Pair of silver baskets designed by Josef Hoffmann for Wiener Werstatte.

Villa Karma entrance hall, Adolf Loos.

Current Applications:

Rocking chair by Rasmus Warberg.

A Lauren Brevner painting. It illustrates the similarities with Gustav Klimt with the use of gold leaf and the woman as a central figure.

ONE STEP FURTHER

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) is an Austrian painter. He was the fist president of the Vienna Secession that was founded in 1897. He has experiences in interior decorations and in designing jewelry and textiles, which is revealed through his paintings. He was innovative in a sense that he experimented a lot with gold encrustation/inlay and the fact that his paintings are considered to be psychological. They were also emotional and sexual.             

Klimt was considered to be at his time, a very controversial artist due to the fact that his paintings could be considered erotic and explicitly sexual with his many female figures that showed flesh. Some liked it and praise him, while others thought it was scandalous.

As one of my favorite painters, I found that interesting and surprising that his works are considered to be scandalous. I think his paintings are celebrating the beauty of women in a positive way and not in a sexist way. On the contrary, he depicted women in high regards and grand admiration, as if they were queens or majestuous creatures, especially with the use of gold encrustation, the complex geometric patterns and the choice of clothing that he choses for them (“richly patterned robes” or “caftans”). His paintings can also depict life or the life cycle such as “The Family”, “The Kiss” or “The Three Ages of Woman”.

                                                                                                                              

"Judith and the Head of Holofernes"

  "Adele Bloch-Bauer I" 

" Mother and Child"                  

  "Death and Life"