Blog 7: The Great Depression and Early Modern Art

         The early 1900's began with a multitude of issues that impacted the world. World War lasted from 1914-1918, and hit Europe hard. The U.S. only joined in 1917, so it had less of an impact. Because of this, American Modernism looks quite different from European Modernism. Even though there was a smaller impact from the War, the stock market crash of 1929 marked the beginning of the Great Depression. The Great Depression was a period of economic downturn that lasted from 1929 through the last 1930's, with the most severe period being from 1929-1933. This had major impacts throughout the world and was characterized by mass unemployment, increased poverty rates, declines in economic output, etc. Despite this, artists prevailed. Today we'll take a look at a few paintings from the Great Depression. 

        Our first painting is titled "Wisconsin Landscape" by John Steuart Curry. It is an American Regionalist painting that was created in 1938 in Wisconsin. American Regionalism was a rejection of Abstraction and strove to depict ordinary life of the working and middle class. These paintings embraced subjects of the heartlands. This painting in particular is of Wisconsin farmlands. The Great Depression had a strong impact on American farms, and was still present during the time this was created. This painting is not weighed down by the tolls of the Great Depression, and instead sheds light on the beautiful and peaceful nature of Midwest farming towns. It's also said that Regionalist painters wanted to revive the past and turn it into the future. To return to small town farming. Unfortunately, the 1920s Census showed that the U.S. had turned into Industrialized Nation, where the majority of people lived in cities. This trend only continued through time. 

        One element that makes this painting stand out is the color. This painting is made up of natural and earthy colors, aside from the farmhouse building. This contrast makes the building stand out and makes it easily identifiable as a farm. The color also provides tone. There are beautiful lighting contrasts in this painting. The dark clouds and shadows in the ground contrast with the light from the sun filtering through. It provides hopefulness of a brighter day. The tone also gives the painting a certain tranquility. Nothing in this painting is overpowering and the naturalness gives a sense of peace. The diagonal line of the rays of sun add movement to this painting. Also, the shapes provide contrast between the natural earth and the farm. The straight lines of the fields and the red barn feel strong and add stability compared to the movement of the rolling clouds and hills. The curved lines of the clouds, hill, and trees give a sense of ease. 

        The next painting is "New York Movie" by Edgar Hopper. This painting is an American Realist painting created in 1939. This takes a different approach than Curry's painting. Hooper depicts a middle-upper class woman in a movie theater in New York. Though very different in subject matter, it is still a result of the Great Depression. Movies were very popular during the Great Depression. They were an inexpensive way to spend time and showed hope for the future. As an escape from reality, as well as a show of the technological advancements being made. Additionally, the woman in this painting is alone, and her body language indicates deep thought. By painting this woman alone, he gives a sense of independence, but also isolation. This also connects back to the hardships of the Great Depression. 

            The color of this painting provides a distinctive contrast between the warm red and yellow colors of the movie theater and the royal blue attire the woman is wearing. This makes her stand out and also emphasizes the theme of isolation, as she appears even more alone. Tone also makes this painting stand out. The left side of the painting is dark, while the right is bright. This throws more attention to the woman and works with the color contrast of her outfit to draw attention to the her. Another aspect I find interesting is the texture. It's subtle, but the hazy texture of the light and shadow gives the painting a softness. The apparent texture of the curtains and the dark wood gives it a sense of elegance. 

        The last work of art is a painting created by Paul Cadmus. Entitled, "The Fleet's In," this painting was created in 1934 in New York City. This painting was part of the Works Progress Association. The WPA was a result of the Great Depression and was a program meant to reduce unemployment rates. It included a branch called the Federal Arts Project, meant to protect employment for those in the arts, as well as keep art alive. Art is typically one of the first commodities to go when money becomes tight. So the WPA hired artists to create pieces for public places. However, this piece in particular was a subject of controversy. It depicts Naval sailors interacting with civilians in a red-light district. This painting was initially going to be featured in the Corcoran Art Gallery in 1934, but was removed by the U.S. Navy due to it being "offensive." This painting is thought to have coded homosexual aspects to it involving the gentlemen on the left side of the painting. The blond man is thought to be gay, as his features were more feminine, and a red tie was a well-known visual when it came to homosexuality. This man appears different from the more masculine looking men. Paul Cadmus himself was gay, and believed it was important to represent the LGBTQ+ community. 

        One element of this painting that stands out is the use of shapes. The figures wear tight clothing, which accentuate the very round and bulging features that Cadmus has given them. This dramatization of their bodies makes the painting quite sexual, adding to the fact that the sailors are cavorting with sex workers. There is also the use of line as texture. You can see the individual lines in the characters' clothing. These lines have the ability to accentuate curves and make objects seem more rounded, which adds to the voluptuous nature of the painting. Another element I found interesting was form. The 2-D flat form lacks depth, more than other 2-D paintings. This causes the individuals to seem very closely layered over one another. This makes their body parts seem quite close to each other. The lower bodies of the two men on the right, the sailors hand over a woman's breast, one woman's hand next to the backside of another, etc. This further adds to the provocative nature of the painting. 

        These three paintings all relate to the Great Depression in different ways. They are all quite different and all portray different ideas. My favorite of the three is "Wisconsin Landscape." I enjoy the peaceful panoramic landscape. It feels warmer and happier than the other two paintings. 

Sources:

J. Barter. America After the Fall: Paintings from the 1930s. The Art Institute of Chicago. (2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrE5K5sS-Vo&t=141s

New York Movie, 1939 by Edward Hopper. EdwardHopper.net.

https://www.edwardhopper.net/newyork-movie.js

Wisconsin Landscape. The Met.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/488030

G. Rhee, M. Diep. New York through Edward Hopper’s Eyes. The Spectator. 

https://stuyspec.com/article/new-york-through-edward-hopper-s-eyes

Paul Cadmus, “The Fleet’s In”. Naval History and Heritage Command. (2019)

https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/art/travelling-exhibits/paul-cadmus.html

B. Martin. Paul Cadmys and the Censorship of Queer Art. The Met. (2021)

https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/paul-cadmus-the-fleets-in