New figurative Realists Visual Arts and Film Studies

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New figurative Realists Visual Arts and Film Studies   

New figurative Realists refer to a group of artists active in 1960s and 1970s that were part of movement that was reacting to minimalism, abstract expressions and conceptual art (Schultz, 131). The realists were inspired by the rise in consumerism and mass production. They responded through representation of subjects in their artistic works. According to Schultz (131), the new realists believed that since they were so involved in the world as to lack the distance required to really see what is real, it is necessary to transform it. Thus, they proclaimed new ways of perceiving the ‘real world’, which were expressed in their art work (Schultz, 131). This essay focuses on the views, visual arts and firms of the new figurative realists such as Andy Warhol, Jack Smith, Alice Neel, Chick Close, Robert Crumb.

How the artists project a Realist image of the world 

According to Marter (549), the new realists tended to see the world as an image which they could split into various parts and then incorporate the parts in their works. They believed that people are so involved in the world to the extent to the extent that they are blurred to see reality (Schultz, 131). They suggested that there is need for artists to come together and form ‘collective singularity’ to face daily challenges, despite their differences. According to their view, this approach will help to bring art and life close together and enable people to return to reality and awareness. Thus, the new realists tended to render everyday situations, characters, objects and dilemmas in a ‘true-to-life’ or ‘realistic’ manner.

How the new realist artists reflected issues

One of the achievements of new realists emerged from direct attention to artistic, psychological, sociological, and political issues. According to Marter (551), they often incorporated such issues into their artistic works. For instance, the paintings of Andy Warhol in 1960s poked fun at the white, middle class consumerism culture (Marter, 551). Jack Smith movie, the Flaming Creatures produced n 1962 provided a satire of Hollywood violent movies. Alice Neel was famous for her oil canvas portraits with effective and expressionistic use of line, color and psychological acumen. Chick Close is famous for his massive scale portraits which are sought by numerous museums and collectors (Marter, 551). Robert Crumb is recognized for his unique style of drawings and his critical and satirical presentation social and political issues affecting Americans. In summary, the realist artists incorporate artistic, psychological, sociological, and political issues in their artistic work.

Source of images used by artists

According to Marter, (550), the new realist artists derived the images from domestic and international social and political events. For instance, early in 1960s, the most of the paintings of Andy Warhol were derived from the Cuban missile crisis, the campaign of Nelson Rockefeller and assassination of John F Kennedy and Martic Luther King among others (Marter, 550).

The purpose of using these particular images

 According to Hills & Tarbell (139), the artists felt that the use of particular images would act as an effective instrument of change. As a result of social and political events and incidents that were taking place in 1960s and 1970s, many of the figurative artists attained great sophistication about the social and political aspects of art and the art world. Using their artistic work, many joined together to protest against political incidents such as the war in Vietnam. They created artistic images which acted as sources of daily reminders of certain events to the public. Thus they used the images to communicate to people about specific events and to encourage them to act, where necessary Hills & Tarbell (140).

The paintings of these artists 

According to Hills & Tarbell (141), the paintings of the new realists were simply exhibited realism. The paintings were largely based on photographs, slides, magazine illustrations and postcards (Hills & Tarbell, 141). Initially, the artists’ paintings were involved hand-drawn images but they progressed to the use of machines. For Instance, early in 1960s Warhol was involved in hand-drawn paintings but later progressed to the use of photographically derived silk-screening in paintings. The imagery used in the advertisements of the paintings was usually executed through the application of ink to paper and blotting the wet ink (Hills & Tarbell, 141).

The Videos Used by the Artists

According to Hills & Tarbell (141) videos of the new realist artists displays largely exhibited the feelings of aesthetic convictions rather than emotional or ethical feelings. A good example is the Flaming Creatures movie produced by Jack Smith in 1962 which had pornographic scenes. Personality aspects of the artists also expressed through the contents of the firms. Most of Jack Smith’s films had pornographic scenes. The films illustrated his notoriety as he demonstrated in his life.

Works Cited

Hills, P. & Tarbell, R., The figurative tradition and the Whitney Museum of American Art:

paintings and sculpture from the permanent collection, University of Delaware Press, 1980

Marter, J., The Grove Encyclopedia of American Art, Oxford University Press, 2011

Schultz, D., Marcel Broodthaers: strategy and dialogue, Bern: Peter Lang, 2007