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Chapter 18
The Real World on Trial: The Early Twentieth Century
Instructor’s Manual
Overview
In this chapter introduce the early twentieth century in art. Discuss the wave of optimism that ran
throughout Western civilization. Speak to the economic, scientific, and political changes that
were occurring and how they impacted art and architecture.
Sub Headers
• The Birth of a new Century
• Munch: “Inner Pictures of the Soul”
• German Expressionism
• Fauvism
• Matisse
• Picasso and Cubism
• Abstracting Sculpture: Brancusi
• “All Things Are Rapidly Changing”: Futurism and Speed
• Modern Warfare for a Modern World: World War I
• Dada: To One Madness We Oppose Another
o Marcel Duchamp and International Dada
• The New Objectivity
• Surrealism
o Surrealist Juxtaposition
o Daí
o Magritte: The Real World on Trial
Terms:
Analytical Cubism
assemblages
avant-garde
collage
Cubism
Dada
Expressionism
Fauves
Futurism
grazia
Surrealism
Synthetic Cubism
Lecture #1
Discussion:
Begin Lecture #1 by discussing the opening section, “Timeless Links: Artist Networks.” Explore
the concept of artists’ networks and how these furthered the success of many artists of the
twentieth century. Continue the lecture by discussing the avant-garde artists, German
Expressionism, Cubism, Fauvism, and Futurism. Speak to the commonalities in content that all
these movements had and speak to the visual differences that separated them.
Class Questions/Prompts:
Munch Edvard Munch based his “inner pictures of the soul” on his own troubled life. Munch’s
mother and sister died from tuberculosis when he was young, and Edvard himself nearly died
from it as well. Another sister was institutionalized for mental illness. Later in life, Munch also
had difficulty with acute anxiety. Both his brother and father died at relatively young ages.
Munch had said “Sickness, insanity and death were the angels that surrounded my cradle and
they have followed me throughout my life.” Munch’s romantic relationships were also strained,
perhaps a result of the lack of a feminine presence of his mother growing up. View his lithograph
The Scream (figure 18-3) and painting Puberty (18-2). Compare to other prints and paintings to
see the mood and emotion that is evoked.
The Critic’s Corner Much of the work in chapter 18 was not well received when first exhibited.
Munch was criticized for his raw expression, Matisse for his wild colors, and Duchamp for what
looked like “an explosion in shingle factory.” If possible, obtain reviews to exhibitions of early
modern art. Why would these works be so controversial when first exhibited yet be so influential
to the direction of art in the twentieth century?
Picasso’s Inspiration Many of Picasso’s works are said to have been strongly influenced by
African art, specifically African masks. Although Picasso had initially denied that African art
was an influence, especially on the work Les Demoiselles d’ Avignon, his paintings contain many
visual similarities to the abstract, block styling of African masks. In early 2006, museums in
South Africa in conjunction with the Picasso Museum in Paris had exhibited African masks next
to Picasso’s paintings to show the correlation. Continue the exploration of Picasso’s inspiration
with African masks and artifacts. How did African masks inspire Picasso? How did African art
influence the direction of modern art in general?
Futurism Futurism is based on the manifesto written by the poet Marinetti in which he declared
that a “roaring automobile, which appears to run like a machine gun, is more beautiful than the
Victory of Samothrace.” Do you agree with that statement? Why would speed and power be
valued over realism in the early twentieth century? Why would the Italian Futurists be so
opposed to the “secondhand clothes” of Italy that they wanted to burn the museums and
libraries?
Artists’ Networks Then and Now: Review with students the Timeless Links section and
discuss the increasing popularity of artists’ networks in the early twentieth century. Ask students
to explore reasons networks became more numerous? Further the discussion by prompting
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students to think about today’s society. Can you think of ways that social networking can impact
the artists of today?
Exercise #1
1. Analysis
2. Compare and Contrast
Figure 18-3 Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1895. New York.
Figure 18-15 Pablo Picasso, Guernica, 1937. New York.
Lecture #2
Discussion:
In Lecture #2 discuss the impact of the first World War on art. Highlight the work of the Dadaist
and the Surrealists. Speak to the war’s impact on the Dada movement, and discuss the impact
Sigmund Freud had on Surrealism.
Class Questions/Prompts:
What is Modernism? How can Modernism be defined? Why did artists beginning in the late
nineteenth century start moving away from realism? Why did artists continue to abstract and
simplify their images during the beginning of the twentieth century?
1. Analysis
a. Have students make observations on materials, methods, cultural and
2. Compare and Contrast
