Early Modern Blog

The Early Modern era has been characterized by rapid technological advancements, increasing globalization, and the beginning of the decline of colonial empires. Many events occurred during this era, such as the Great Depression. For the sake of this blog, we will be looking into three different artworks by different artists that have had a huge influence on the Great Depression. 

The Great Depression was a prolonged economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. It happens to be the longest, most widespread, and deepest depression during the 20th century and has resulted in social and economic consequences worldwide. A stock market crash that occurred on October 24, 1929, also known as “Black Thursday,” caused this event. This has resulted in stock prices plummeting, banks failing, and many businesses shutting down. Unemployment cases rose, causing many people to lose their jobs, homes, and savings. The Great Depression resulted in many other countries around the world experiencing economic decline and unemployment as well. Governments had a hard time looking for some possible solutions. Fortunately, the Great Depression finally came to an end in 1939, with the start of World War II, and massive government spending. After the Great Depression, people developed new economic policies and regulations aimed at preventing another economic catastrophe, such as the creation of social safety nets and increased government intervention in the economy. 

The first painting that we will be looking at is called American Gothic. It was painted by Grant Wood in Iowa in 1930. The painting depicts a farmer and a woman standing in front of a farmhouse. The farmer is holding a pitchfork, and the woman is standing next to him. Both the farmer and the woman are wearing traditional rural clothing, with the farmer wearing overalls and a shirt, and the woman wearing a plain dress with a white collar. This painting has been interpreted in a lot of ways, but it is mainly seen as a celebration of American rural life and values. The painting has also been interpreted as a commentary on the hardships and challenges that farmers faced during the Great Depression. Because of the fact that the painting captures the mood and concerns of rural America during the Great Depression, we can safely say that it had a huge influence. 

Overall, Wood’s American Gothic shows a sense of calmness and serenity. The use of color, shape, and form in this artwork works together to create a harmonious and balanced composition. The colors used in the painting are earthy tones such as beige, brown, and green. This creates a sense of warmth and familiarity, which gives the painting a bit of a nostalgic feel. The contrast of the darker colors in the farmer’s clothes against the lighter colors of the woman's dress adds depth and visual interest to the composition. The shapes used for this painting are simple and geometric, which adds a sense of symmetry to the painting. The rectangular shape of the house behind the farmer and the woman provides a stable background, while the triangular shape of the farmer’s pitchfork creates a focal point in the center of the composition. The circular shape of the woman's face and the oval shape of her hat soften the angularity of the rest of the painting. In terms of placement, the farmer and woman are centered in the composition, which creates a sense of balance and stability. The placement of the pitchfork in the center of the painting adds a sense of tension, but this is balanced by the calm expressions on the faces. The emotion conveyed in American Gothic is one of stoicism and determination. The stern expressions on the faces show a sense of purpose and resilience, and the pitchfork represents hard work and determination. 

Up next, we will be looking at a painting that is called Guernica. It was painted by Pablo Picasso in Paris in 1937. The painting depicts the horrors of war, specifically the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War which took place in 1937. This painting is considered to be one of the most powerful anti-war statements, and it is widely regarded as one of the most powerful and influential works of art created in the 20th century. Although this painting was not directly influenced by the economic conditions of the Great Depression, it was created during a time when a lot of people around the world were questioning the values and assumptions of modern society. The bombing of Guernica by Nazi Germany during the Spanish Civil War has been seen by many people as a symbol of danger and the need for social and political reform. The painting was created in response to this event, and it became a powerful anti-war statement. The painting's imagery of destruction and suffering creates a sense of despair and uncertainty that many people went through during the Great Depression. The painting's critique of the destructive and dehumanizing effects of war can also be seen as a broader critique of the political and economic systems that triggered the Great Depression in the first place. 

The colors that Picasso used for the painting are all black and white. The use of these colors shows a sense of drama and emphasizes the intense emotions shown in the work. The shapes Picasso used are angular and fractured, reflecting the shattered reality of the subject matter. The geometric shapes of the broken buildings and the distorted figures show a sense of chaos and destruction, which emphasizes the devastating impact of war. The placement of the figures is disoriented, where figures overlap and intersect in unexpected ways. The central figure of the horse creates a focal point that catches a lot of attention, and the placement of the grieving figures on the left side of the painting emphasizes the human toll of war. The emotion shows a sense of horror and despair. The expressions on the faces of the figures, the writhing bodies, and the jagged, violent shapes all contribute to a sense of anguish and pain. Overall, this painting is a powerful condemnation of war and the senseless destruction it brings.

Finally, here we have what is called The Human Condition. It was painted by Rene Magritte in Belgium. There are two versions of this painting, one was created in 1933 and the other in 1935. This painting depicts a painting within a painting. The outer painting shows a landscape with trees, a road, and a cloudy sky. However, the painting is positioned in front of a window and viewers could see that the same landscape is visible through the window, which suggests that the painting is a representation of what lies beyond it. This is another painting that was created during the Great Depression. The painting can be seen as a reflection of the political, social, and economic uncertainty of the time. The idea of showing a painting within a painting shows a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty about what is real and what is not. This reflects the overall mood of the Great Depression, where a lot of people had a hard time making sense of a world that is changing so quickly. The painting's use of illusion and trickery is also reminiscent of the tactics used by politicians and marketers to manipulate public opinion during the Great Depression. Overall, the painting can be seen as a reflection of the anxieties and uncertainties of the Great Depression, and a commentary on the relationship between art, perception, and reality during hard times. 

Magritte's use of muted colors with shades of green, brown, and gray, creates a calming sense to the painting. The colors are also realistic and naturalistic, which adds to the illusion of the painting as a window into the world beyond. The forms in the painting are realistic and detailed, particularly in the painting within the painting. The shapes of the trees, clouds, and road are all carefully rendered, which creates a sense of depth and realism. The juxtaposition of the painting within the painting against the landscape seen through the window creates a visual puzzle that challenges the perception of the viewers. The placement of the painting within the painting is central to the composition of the work. The painting is positioned to align perfectly with the landscape seen through the window, creating an illusion that the two are the same. This placement adds to the painting's sense of mystery and ambiguity, challenging the viewer's assumptions about what is real and what is not. In terms of emotion, the painting creates a sense of calm and contemplation, inviting viewers to reflect on the relationship between art, perception, and reality. The painting's use of illusion and trickery creates an intriguing sense, adding to its overall emotional impact. 

Overall, these paintings and artists have shown us many accomplishments have been made during such a huge crisis. I have to applaud the courage of the artists in creating these paintings. The paintings would make great subjects for giving out history lessons on the Great Depression. 

Citations: 

“Does American Gothic Depict the Great Depression?” Hankering for History, July 9, 2017. https://hankeringforhistory.com/does-american-gothic-depict-the-great-depression/. 

“Pablo Picasso - The Great Depression to Moma Exhibition Artworks: 1930–1939.” Golden Age Children's Book Illustrations, July 29, 2021. https://www.nocloo.com/pablo-picasso-great-depression-to-moma-exhibition-1930-1939/. 

“The Human Condition, 1933 by Rene Magritte.” The human condition, 1933 by Rene Magritte. Accessed April 9, 2023. https://www.renemagritte.org/the-human-condition.jsp.