The focus of the Armory Show was modern art, and a new form of modern art, Cubism. Cubism was created by Pablo Picasso while he lived in Paris. It is a geometric art presented as abstract cubes.
Subjects of the art are often ambiguous, however the dissection between the subject and the background is often clear. It started in the 1890's but didn't become popular amongst artist until around 1910. It was often disliked due to the lack of understanding. The idea of not being able to distinctly see the subject in a natural depiction led most people to believe that it was a lack of expression. Cubism, however, is the artist expressing a feeling through the medium of cubes. This unpopular art style became one of the most famous, and most recognizable styles to exist; this was due to the focus of it at the Armory Show.
The Armory Show took many months of planning. Every detail was chosen with reason. If the show were to display modern art, especially cubism, than the art had to be existent in the design. George Bellows and other artists designed the layout of the show.
The design specifically made viewers have to walk through many exhibitions of American artists before entering the European sections. The designers of the show were tired of American art being left behind under the shadow of it's European counterparts. The show was broken up into eighteen sections. The eighteen sections were labeled letters A-R.
Gallery A featured American Sculpture and decorative art. Many artist focused on Native Americans as subjects, for the Navajo Indians used cubism in creating their carpets and other arts. The Gallery featured famous artists like Robers Chandler and Andrew Dasburg. Gallery B featured Contemporary American Sculpture having artists like Robert Aitken and Chester Beach. Gallery C focused on American Painters. George Bellows was the focal point of gallery c. He organized the show. His paintings depict leisure life that Industrialization birthed. Things like boxing, circuses, and polo matches were often the subject of his paintings. He captured movement and his paintings focus on leisure life. Galley D also consisted of American Painters. The gallery featured a large nu,ben of Marcela Hartley's work. He adapted George Kandinsky's style and incorporated Native American Symbols. Galleries E and F had American Impressionists. It featured works of, "The Ten"(10 famous Impressionist) They broke The Ten up into two galleries which was a jab at the outdated styles depicted. Galleries G-L featured European painters and sculptors. In Gallery H, the french painter Henry Matisse was highly criticized. His art was seen as childish, and his representative style was seen as lazy. Matisse paved the way for Modern artists of the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Many critiques considered his works to be the worst in the show.
The main focus, cubism, was popularly disliked by the public until the show. One painting changed that.
Nude Descending a Staircase was a painting done by Marcel Duchamp.
He used the new technology of high speed, stop motion photography. He layered the photographs then painted. The ambiguous painting confused many. There were rewards to those who could find the nude. The painting sold at the show for the highest price paid for a painting of that time. After the painting sold for a ridiculous amount, the public began to appreciate the new form of art.
Some critiques still disliked the art form. The most famous was Theodore Roosevelt
his harsh critique of cubism was caused by a lack of understanding. He presented his view in a humorous fashion. He believed that Cubism was better when it was done only by Indians. He believed the art of the Navajo Rug was superior. He showed appreciation towards traditional European artists, believing that Americans were trying to differentiate themselves too much from Europe. This critique was spread through newspaper, and appealed to those who also didn't understand the art form.
The Armory Show enraptured ideas of the new, 20th century. Urbanization and Industrialization brought new ideas to art. America was growing independent from Europe, and forming its own ideas. The Armory Show was the perfect storm, that helped to grow American Art to become mainstream, and even to surpass other countries.
Sources:
1.
I used this source to get an understanding of each gallery. The site broke down each section of the show by painting, and the public’s reaction. It gave in-depth reviews from scholars of the time of the show, as well as modern day critics.
(Notecards A-H)
(Notecards A-H)
2.
Art Institute of Chicago, Armory Show: Audience
I used this source to get an idea of who attended the show, and why. I was fascinated to learn that the public viewed the art with a harsh eye. Quick to critique, and slow to accept.
I used this source to get an idea of who attended the show, and why. I was fascinated to learn that the public viewed the art with a harsh eye. Quick to critique, and slow to accept.
(Notecard R)
3.
George Mason University, History Matters: Roosevelt On The Armory Show
I used this source to see the public’s opinion on the show, and to get a good primary source that is reliable and purposefully biased against the show to view negative opinions.
I used this source to see the public’s opinion on the show, and to get a good primary source that is reliable and purposefully biased against the show to view negative opinions.
(notecard Q)
4.
Wikipedia: Armory Show
I used this source to get a general overview on the armory show. It helped to provide general knowledge on the subject as well as to pin-point potential subjects to research.(Notecard I)
Wikipedia: Armory Show
I used this source to get a general overview on the armory show. It helped to provide general knowledge on the subject as well as to pin-point potential subjects to research.(Notecard I)
5.
I used this source to learn about cubism to assist the understanding of the art that was presented in the show.
(Notecard J)
6.
I used this source to ;learn about cubist painters in the armory show to learn about their art and that of those who influenced them.
(notecard K&L)
,_oil_on_canvas,_100.3_x_73.6_cm,_Museum_of_Modern_Art_New_York..jpg){kind=link}
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