Description
[Modern] 1900 to 1945 is one of the most dynamic and fascinating periods in American art. At the dawn of the 20th century, French Impressionism still exerted a powerful influence on American artists, many of whom used this imported style to document the gentility of the Gilded Age. But revolution was in the air. In ever-increasing numbers American artists became involved with issues concerning national identity and modernity. They sought to create a distinctly American form of modern art; one that expressed contemporary American life and values and, perhaps most importantly, one that owed no debt to European art and culture. This course will investigate this momentous shift that occurred in American art as seen in the paintings, sculptures, photographs and architecture of the period.