Modern Art Essay Example for Free

Modern Art EssayAfter viewing Georg Baselitzs Auftritt am Sandtreich II bei (Remix), and Cindy Shermans Untitled 224, one can see two very different artists trying to convey a topic that is relatable on many levels. George Baselitz is a German Neo-Expressionist, while Cindy Sherman created work in the American, Metro Pictures writing style yet both have chosen to remix the past into current and somewhat inherent images of the day. One can relate to these images on the basis of recognition, and interpretation of the cultural meanings of the time. Both artists have chosen to give the audience snapshots of their past, Sherman with the 1950s womens rights movement, and Baselitz portrayal of a post-World War II Germany. The images selected are form a more than modern era, Baselitz-2006 than Sherman-1990, and it is interesting to see the changes from the work of the 1980s.Baselitz became famous for turning his paintings upside-down to shift the viewers focus away from the subjec t involvement to the expressive surface. In his later work, though, the inverted subject matter indeed seems to be the focus, deliberately so in order to effectively portray the image after years of contemplation and healing. Shermans later work is similar in stance, but is a colored photographic interpretation of Caravaggios Sick Bacchus portrait. One can tiller the comparison that both artists have overcome adversity, and their imagery conveys a message of hope and promise stemming from difficulty.Georg Baselitz, Auftritt am Sandtreich II bei + 30 C (Remix), 2006 Oil on canvas http//www.ecopolis.org/georg-baselitz-remix-paintings/Georg Baselitz grew up in Germany during WWII, a time of unrest and ever changing cultural norms. This makes sense, as Baselitz himself moved from East to West Germany as a youth living in Germany through the reunification of the Nineties. In Auftritt am Sandtreich II bei (Remix), Baselitz has revisited the most dispute aspects of his own history, w ith hindsight, and made a brand new version of the art. Not only were the paintings enlarged, they were also revisited with bright colors and bold lines. When one looks at the work, one can see an inverted soldiers legs extending into the bright scenery of chunked color.The transparency of the soldier seems to indicate that this is an image of the past, with the ghostly interpretation of faded color. One can conclude that Baselitz has forgiven the transgressions of the warfare torn society, and views it promptly as a faded memory that has shaped him into the person he is today. While the image is still vaguely gruesome with the soldiers displace outline, implying death, it still somehow looks through that to a brighter day on the horizon. The pallet is very bright, and the canvas is mammoth, almost swallowing the viewer up in its scale. The subject matter does non possess any formal qualities of realism or training, but does follow in Baselitzs tradition of inversion and loose br ushwork. Baselitz has revisited many of his earlier works, and challenged his previous discern of modernism.Cindy Sherman, Untitled 224. 1990Chromogenic color print, 48 x 38 (121.9 x 96.5 cm). http//www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2012/cindysherman/gallery/audio/8-224.phpIn Cindy Shermans Untitled 224, she has transcended her Metro moving picture roleplaying into the work of Caravaggios Sick Bacchus, the painting from the late 16th century. This photograph is drastically different form the rest of the Untitled series referable to the strong makeup, and use of prosthetics to become male. The emasculated arm is a well done prosthetic to illuminate the male form. The arm is one of the only move of the staging that is inconsistent with the original painting. The figure in Caravaggios painting is more feminine than that of Sherman, slightly ironic. The costuming is consistent with Shermans other works, with exact heed to detail and accurate props.Caravaggios painting is thought to be a self-portrait of the artist as the Roman god of wine, Bacchus. Sherman was very interested in addressing the roles of women, and challenging societys views on the subject, which at the time were primarily negative. Shermans Untitled 224 depicts a female in the role of a Greek god, which is not only a figure of power and celebration, but also a spiritual entity. As American culture was shifting towards equality in the 1950s, Shermans work helped viewers to take on new roles otherwise unexplored by women. The implications were not only remixed to force a message, they were also liberating to women in a time of need.Both Baselitz and Shermans work sample information from the past. Both works reflect on their own cultural heritage with a moving cognizance to historical events that they have experienced. So if one views these works in a Postmodernist standpoint the viewer is acknowledged to be an active participant in an explicit dialogue between the artist, the artwork, onesel f, and ones cultural context. Shermans Untitled 224 allows women to interact with the work in a comical and almost satirical way. Even though one should not take womens rights lightly, nor denounce the impact that it has had on American culture, viewers of this work can role-play along with Sherman.It is an interesting choice of role-playing as Caravaggios interpretation of Sick Bocchus portrays a frail and hung-over drunkard as his subject. Shermans choice of subject matter can say that if a cleaning lady were in this position she would be strong and handle it with poise. Sherman does not seem to be concerned with feedback from viewers, but rather interested in conveying a message in a new way. Baselitz has allowed the influence of time and criticism to heighten his awareness of change and fashion a new outlook on an old subject matter. Postmodern viewers can more readily relate to the remix works as they lend themselves to a brighter pallet, a post war recover of sorts. Society an d culture always has a way of persevering out of trial and adversity, and both of their artworks convey that message of hope and promise.