Abstract Art in the Interwar Era: A Period of International Convergence
The surge of abstract art during the 1920s and 1930s was marked by international collaboration through publications and groups, fostering discussions on non-representative art across painting, sculpture, design, and architecture.
art movement
Image: Kazimir Malevich, Black Square (1915) - This iconic painting is considered one of the pioneering works of abstract art, symbolizing the radical departure from representational art, Credit: artincontext.org
Following the aftermath of the First World War, Paris and Berlin emerged as cosmopolitan hubs drawing in artists from across Europe. The exodus of creatives from Russia, provoked by the Soviet regime's imposition of Socialist Realism, led figures like Wassily Kandinsky and Kazimir Malevich to seek refuge in these burgeoning art centers. This convergence became a melting pot for diverse artistic styles such as Cubism, Suprematism, Constructivism, and De Stijl, solidifying abstraction as the official language of modern art transcending borders and disciplines.
The surge of abstract art during the 1920s and 1930s was buoyed by the establishment of various publications and groups. In Paris, entities like Art Concret, Cercle et Carré, and Abstraction-Création, alongside London's Circle and the American Abstract Artists Association in the USA, not only organized exhibitions but also served as platforms for international discussions on abstract art, encompassing painting, sculpture, design, and architecture.
Image: Wassily Kandinsky, Composition VIII (1923) - This painting showcases Kandinsky's abstract style and use of geometric shapes, Credit: Wikiart.org
Interwar abstract art united diverse styles, transcending boundaries as the era's official artistic language
Simultaneously, amidst the rise of Surrealism, which embraced the avant-garde spirit, the international community gravitating toward non-representative art adopted a somewhat academic approach. Unlike the radical departure from the past witnessed at the dawn of the century, interwar abstract art assumed a more prescribed and decorative path. Paintings tended to re-embrace the interplay between form and background, relying on abstract elements against neutral backgrounds, while sculpture reintroduced traditional concepts like the plinth and monumentality.
Despite the diverse array of expressions under the umbrella of abstraction, two predominant trends emerged: one leaned toward geometric precision, reminiscent of Constructivism, and a second trend favored organic forms, sometimes evoking Surrealism, emphasizing nature and landscape, predominantly within sculptures. While distinct, both tendencies aimed to express a universal pursuit of order and equilibrium, whether through the objective language of geometry or the quest for harmony within natural forms, symbolizing a utopian ideal amidst the mounting tensions leading up to the Second World War.
Image: Joaquín Torres-García, Structure in five tones with two interspersed forms. Work related to their contributions to Cercle et Carré, which promoted abstract art. Credit: mr-expert.com
The abstract art of the interwar period seeded subsequent artistic movements. Its fusion of art and science, the embrace of geometric vocabulary and mathematical foundations, and the reevaluation of the relationship between the painted image and its support structure laid the groundwork for future developments in Op Art and Systemic Painting.
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