Modern art is known for its many different styles, movements, and approaches.

From Impressionism to Surrealism, artists have found new ways to express themselves through their work.

One approach that has had a significant impact on modern art is Formalism.

This aesthetic philosophy emphasizes the importance of form, color, line, and shape in a work of art, rather than its subject matter or narrative content.

In this article, we will explore the origins of Formalism, its key characteristics, and its influence on modern art.

Origins Of Formalism

The origins of Formalism can be traced back to the early 20th century, when artists and art theorists began to question the traditional approach to art.

They believed that art should be valued for its own sake, rather than as a representation of reality or a means of conveying a message or emotion.

This led to the development of a new aesthetic philosophy that placed emphasis on the formal qualities of art, rather than its content.

One of the most influential figures in the development of Formalism was the Russian art theorist, Viktor Shklovsky.

In his 1917 essay “Art as Technique”, Shklovsky argued that the purpose of art was to defamiliarize the familiar, to make the familiar strange or new again.

He believed that this could be achieved through the use of formal devices, such as repetition, defamiliarization, and estrangement.

Another important figure in the development of Formalism was the American art critic, Clement Greenberg.

In his 1939 essay “Avant-Garde and Kitsch”, Greenberg argued that modern art was superior to traditional art because it was more concerned with the formal qualities of art than with its content.

   

He believed that modern art was a self-critical and self-referential form of art that was concerned with its own medium and its own history.

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Key Characteristics Of Formalism

Formalism is characterized by its emphasis on the formal qualities of art.

This includes its use of color, line, shape, and texture, as well as its composition and balance.

Formalist artists and art theorists believe that these formal qualities are more important than the content of a work of art, and that they are what give a work of art its aesthetic value.

Another key characteristic of Formalism is its rejection of traditional narrative or representational art.

Formalist artists and art theorists believe that art should not be used as a means of conveying a message or emotion, but rather as an end in itself.

They believe that art should be valued for its own sake, and that it should be appreciated for its formal qualities, rather than for its content.

Influence On Modern Art

Formalism has had a significant influence on modern art, particularly in the development of abstract art.

Abstract art is characterized by its use of pure form and color, and its rejection of traditional representational art.

Formalist artists and art theorists believed that abstract art was the purest form of art, because it was concerned solely with the formal qualities of art, rather than with its content.

One of the most influential artists in the development of abstract art was Wassily Kandinsky.

Kandinsky believed that art should be a spiritual experience, and that it should be concerned with the inner world of the artist, rather than with the external world.

He believed that abstract art was the purest form of art, because it allowed the artist to express their inner world through pure form and color.

Another important artist in the development of abstract art was Piet Mondrian. Mondrian believed that art should be reduced to its purest form, and that it should be concerned solely with the formal qualities of art.

He believed that art should be a universal language, and that it should be accessible to all people, regardless of their cultural or social background.

Formalism – Wrap Up

Formalism is an important aesthetic philosophy that has had a significant influence on modern art.

It emphasizes the importance of the formal qualities of art, such as color, line, shape, and texture, and it rejects traditional narrative or representational art.

Formalist artists and art theorists believe that art should be valued for its own sake, and that it should be appreciated for its formal qualities, rather than for its content.

Formalism has been particularly influential in the development of abstract art, which is characterized by its use of pure form and color.

Overall, Formalism has played an important role in shaping the aesthetics of modern art, and it continues to be a significant influence on contemporary art today.