Early Modern

     Surrealism was created as a reaction to the horrors of the 1930s. War brought pain and destruction to so many individuals and countries. Art is an expressive way to cope and process what's happening. With Sigmund Freud's theories on unconsciousness, I believe society hid in the recesses of their minds rather than see the death of war. I chose three works of art by three unique artists and mediums to discuss. There are more than just painted artworks that were used to help process the war. There is a variety in their pain and the art from this time shares that. 

Otto Dix, Skull, 1924

    Otto Dix was another victim of trauma from the war. He was an artillery gunner in trenches on the eastern front. He created a portfolio called Der Krieg, which means the war. In this portfolio, he presents a series of prints that don't promote ww1 nor heroize the soldiers who fought in said war. His prints were about the reality of the death and distraction caused by the aftermath of this sickening great war.

This lovely, gruesome skull is an etching and aquatint print by Otto Dix. Now the Skull by the german artist is in the art institute of Chicago, although it's currently off view.

The skull is from a random soldier or bystander and is being scavenged by maggots and worms. A skull is the universal symbol of death. Because of this, it was such an impactful symbol to see in art during those harsh times. Death was all around them, and artists took the image of the skull for many social justice pieces.

This graphic work of art is composed off-center, favoring the left side of the cream-colored paper. There are shadows and textures to make this two-dimensional object a three-dimensional skull. I especially like how the insects that are crawling out of the skull's nose. The two worms wiggling off to either side remind me of a mustache. It's a very crisp and technically attractive artwork. I am both horrified by the subject and also impressed and mesmerized by subject.

    Max Ernst, Celebes, 1921

   Max Ernst was quite traumatized by the events of WW1, seeing as he was part of the artillery division in the army. You can feel his fears come out through his surrealist paintings. Celebes is an oil painting by Max Ernst in 1921. This painting kick-started his long carrier in surrealism art. as of now, Celebes is one of the more notable works of art in the Tate Modern in London.

   It's quite a dismal painting. There's a gloomy sky looming over a mechanical animal hunting a fearful woman. I feel slight anxiety when I view this painting, and I feel as if I understand a little of the anxiety WW1 caused. I can't imagine the fear of being chased and knowing your fate. 

   Here Ernst pieces together a tank with an elephant, bull-like mashup. There is a horrid mechanical animal roaming in a post-war atmosphere. On top of the creature, there are brightly colored structures. I'm not sure what the geometric structures are supposed to be, but it looks as if an eye is appearing through the blue structure. I'm also not sure what the metal wrap is around the trunk of the animal. In the bottom right-hand corner there is a naked headless woman. This nude woman, throwing her arm up in distress, and looks so fragile in that post-apocalyptic scenery. 

  The longer I look at this painting, the more interesting it becomes to me. The fish swimming in the sky is so implausible it made me laugh. The impossible became possible, but I'm not quite sure that's a good thing about this war dystopia painting. A militarized tank with animalistic features are a frightful combination. Tanks are rough and vicious while they rush into battle, just like a wild animal chasing a helpless woman. 

Charlie Chaplin disguised as a tree trunk in Shoulder Arms,1918

     This last piece is my favorite, it's a snapshot from charlie chaplains' film shoulder arms. It's a surrealist movie about a Chaplin who's in boot camp and has a dream about becoming a hero. Photographers are my favorite medium for surrealism art. I have such admiration for their ability to manipulate physical objects without a paintbrush but with new technology. There's also just a certain visually pleasing about black and white emotional dream-like photos. 

    

I'd like to give an honorable mention to Lee Miller, a vogue model, and badass woman photographer during the surrealist period. Her photos were a little past the time frame, but she still contributed a large amount of effort to surrealist photos with her woman's war and portrait photos. 

    In this scene, Chaplin is camouflaged inside a tree to hide from the enemy. He spends his time as a tree trying not to get chopped down, saving a man, and trying to get shot. It's quite a funny couple of scenes watching his reaction to almost getting hacked down, but the man couldn't seem to get his bearing, so Chaplin poked him in the behind. He also bonked a few men on the head and ran around, then escaped through a pipe. Here Chaplin is trying to make light of traumatizing events through humor. 

      The composition of the photo puts Chaplin front and center. The focus remains on him, causing the background to blur away. Chaplin's face is wide and alright. It's a silent film. He must exaggerate all of his body movements and facial expressions. In this snapshot, you can see how expressive he is with his face and capturing the fear but bravery to continue. 

   

Tate. “Nine Ways Artists Responded to the First World War.” Tate, https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/aftermath/nine-ways-artists-responded-first-world-war.

“The Elephant Celebes.” The Elephant Celebes by Max Ernst, https://www.maxernst.org/elephant-celebes/.

Magazine, Words PORT. “Top Five: Otto Dix and Der Krieg.” Magazine.com, 26 Nov. 2015, https://www.port-magazine.com/art-photography/top-five-otto-dix-and-der-krieg/.

Behrens, Roy R. “WWI Camouflage, Motion Pictures and Surrealism.” WWI Camouflage, Motion Pictures and Surrealism, 1 Jan. 1970, http://camoupedia.blogspot.com/2019/01/wwi-camouflage-motion-pictures-and.html.

“Otto Dix. Skull (Schädel) from the War (Der Krieg). (1924): Moma.” The Museum of Modern Art, https://www.moma.org/collection/works/63262#:~:text=Dix%20manipulated%20the%20etching%20and,the%20images%2C%20mimicking%20decaying%20flesh.