1920s American Art

Movements in 1920s American Art

Art Deco was an essential aspect of art in the 1920s. Still, the decade is also characterized as the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance, a period defined by the blossoming of African American art and literature. Accompanying these more famous periods were Precisionism and Dada and Surrealist Photography — each capturing the philosophies of the 1920s in opposite ways.

Art Deco

Art Deco was created with the consumer in mind. It was meant to be reproduced and decorative to appeal to the average consumer, not the art collector. It was highly influenced by mechanization and reproductivity. This art movement is characterized by four primary qualities, geometric shapes, ancient or non-western inspirations, craftsmanship, and stylized figures.

Precisionism

Joining in on Art Deco’s celebration of mechanization and industry is Precisionism. Precisionism was not a defined artistic movement — none of its practitioners defined the style in a manifesto, and no one wrote about it in a journal, as with Art Deco. However, the artists who painted in a Precisionist style were united in the characteristics of their work.

This art style wasn't just for consumers like Art Deco was. Precisionists looked for pure and natural forms of industrialization by "zooming in" on a subject. The artists exhibited a form of detachment in their work. Because of this sense of detachment and the blown-up closeness of their subjects, the images were familiar but still very abstract. They evoked the emotional relationship of the artists to their urban settings.

Fig 2: "The Bridge" by Joseph Stella. Stella painted several different versions of the Brooklyn Bridge during his lifetime.

Harlem Renaissance Art

A specific style or technique didn't categorize art within the Harlem Renaissance. Instead, it was about African Americans telling their story and reclaiming the narrative. Many of these pieces were inspired by African cultures, specifically Egypt. This movement had many artists, printmakers, photographers, sculptors, painters, and more! Harlem Renaissance Art was experimental and Avant-garde.

Many of these talented artists from the Renaissance did not work in America for long. In the 1920s and 1930s, many Black artists lived in Europe as expatriates, where they felt they could practice their art and receive support outside the racialized confines of the United States. This was also true of writers and other creators from the Renaissance. Many were given scholarships from European universities to broaden their abilities abroad.

Notable Artists of 1920s American Art

This period produced many different artists with unique experiences and backgrounds. Let's take a closer look at one from each of the before-mentioned movements. We'll look at Paul Phillippe Cret, Georgia O'Keefe, and Augusta Savage!

Paul Phillipe Crete

Paul Phillipe Crete was a French architect who taught at the University of Pennsylvania. Crete taught and inspired many architects who would go on to create their legacies. During World War II, Crete left America to serve in the French army. Once the war ended, he returned to America to resume his career as an architect. He designed a memorial for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's son and many structures across Pennsylvania. Crete incorporated the excess of Art Deco into his designs.

Georgia O'Keeffe

Georgia O'Keeffe might be one of America's greatest artists. O'Keefe's art was shown the symbolic progression of American culture and modernity. Her art up to the late 1920s was within the Precisionism movement, but upon a visit to New Mexico, O'Keeffe became inspired by Native American and Hispanic art. Her art took a turn to represent this inspiration. Later in life, O'Keeffe lost her vision, but she still created art thanks to her assistants.

Fig 3: "Grey Line With Black, Blue, And Yellow" by Georgia O'Keefe.

Augusta Savage

Augusta Savage was a sculptor that began her career during the Harlem Renaissance. She was one of the creators of the Harlem Art Center, which was so well organized that First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt used it as a model for similar centers across the country! Savage's goal was to create art that inspired people and told of the cultural experience of African Americans.

Famous Works of 1920s American Art

We've looked at some of the well-known artists of the 1920s; now, let's look at some of the famous artwork of this era! Once again, we'll look at a piece from each of the previously discussed movements! From the Art Deco Movement, we have Grauman's Egyptian Theatre. Charles Demuth's I Saw the Figure Five in Gold will represent the Precisionism Movement. Lastly, we will have Aaron Douglas's Charleston from the Harlem Renaissance.

Grauman's Egyptian Theatre

Initially, this theater was supposed to have a Spanish-esque theme, but that quickly changed with the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. Americans were fascinated with mummies, so Sid Grauman made this theater to reflect the American excitement surrounding Egypt. The red tiled roof of the theater is a remnant of the original Spanish design. The brightly colored building sported Egyptian-inspired decorations as well.

Fig 4: Sid Grauman's Egyptian Theatre opened in 1922.

I Saw the Figure Five in Gold

Charles Demuth made several portraits dedicated to his time's great creative people. I Saw the Figure Five in Gold was dedicated to a poem written by one of Demuth's friends that features the lines:

Fig 5: I Saw the Figure Five in Gold by Charles Demuth

Charleston

Aaron Douglas was an artist who became popular during the Harlem Renaissance. He drew inspiration from Cubism and the art style of the ancient Egyptians. Douglass used silhouettes to represent humans. In Charleston, Douglas paid tribute to jazz, created by African Americans. The piece told the story of a French writer, Paul Morand, where an African American saxophone player was killed because of a white woman's irrational and racist beliefs.

Fig 1: Charleston, 1928, by Aaron Douglas.

Impact of 1920s American Art

The 1920s was a time that Americans challenged the status quo. Their art was new and innovative as they pushed boundaries. Many art styles were created and developed during this period. The following generations of artists further developed these styles. Historically, people denied a voice could tell their stories through art. The art of this decade still influences artists today.