1920s American Art

The Roaring Twenties was a period defined by excess. America had entered a period of peace and the arts flourished! From the Art Deco movement to Precisionism, the art within this period was new and interesting. Different communities found their voices during the 1920s, like artists of the Harlem Renaissance. Let's take a closer look at the unique characteristics, famous works, and notable artists from this era!

Role of 1920s American Art

In the years after WWI and the Spanish Flu epidemic, young people celebrated and moved from rural areas to the high-flying life of the city. American industry was thriving as former munition factories turned to produce consumer goods, and Henry Ford’s assembly line made manufacturing more streamlined. Spending was high as the economy boomed, and technological innovations were finally available to the masses. Not only that, but the sound was finally being added to films, and speakeasies introduced crowds to jazz music.

Fig 1: Ethiopia by Meta Warrick Fuller, an artist who became popular during the Harlem Renaissance.

So, how did all this prosperity and innovation translate to the arts? In many ways, visual arts reflected the new age of prosperity and industry sweeping the nation. Some artistic movements battled against that, attempting to draw their audience's eyes to the negative aspects of consumerism. In both ways, the 1920s began many artistic movements that still influence our culture today.

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.

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.