Pop Art has long been one of the most popular and influential art movements of the 20th century, renowned for its bright colours, bold patterns, and its social commentary on mass consumerism and celebrity culture. As its popularity continues to soar, it begs the question: what does Pop Art represent, what messages does it send, and how does it differ from other art forms? By examining the actual movement, its predecessors, and its long-lasting impact, we can begin to understand Pop Art and its place in modern culture.
Pop Art is generally understood to be a movement that emerged in the 1950s and ’60s, but its roots go back much further. As early as the 18th century, artists like Johnathan Richter, George Stubbs and Jean-Antoine Watteau used vivid colours, photorealistic images, and exaggeration to capture both the beauty and ugliness of the modern world they lived in. These painters, as well as the works of Romanticists and Impressionists of the 19th century, laid the foundation of what became the modern visual style of Pop Art.
The Emergence of Pop Art
The defining characteristics of pop art, however, can be attributed to two camps of artists working in the 1950s and ’60s. British artists such as Richard Hamilton, David Hockney, and Peter Blake used bold, graphic images and found objects to create their art in a style called ‘pop art’. On the other side of the Atlantic, American artists like Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg mixed techniques from abstract expressionism and Dadaism to create what is commonly called ‘neo-dadaism’. By mixing pop culture references, abstract art, and satire, these artists were able to create art that encapsulated the spirit of the time.
For the first time in history, mass-produced goods and mass media like books, magazines and television made it possible for every person to experience the same objects. This gave pop artists the unique opportunity to create artwork that could potentially be shared by and reflected back at a wide audience, which made it immensely popular. Pop art also focused heavily on vibrant colours and humour, making it accessible to a general audience.
Popularising Consumerism and Popular Culture
Pop art was also a way for artists to criticise and reflect on the modern world and its culture of consumerism. This movement was a drastic departure from the more classical ways of painting and sculpture, as art was no longer intended to be placed in a gallery, but instead printed on posters, turned into advertisements, and even applied to everyday objects. In this way, it was a form of protest against the increasing commercialisation of the art world.
Popular figures like Andy Warhol took it a step further, creating works that satirised modern celebrities and consumer culture. Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s Soup Can painting and his use of everyday objects featuring celebrities like Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley were a direct commentary on the commodification of popular culture. His works, and those of the other pop artist, helped to popularise the idea of consumerism and popular culture and paved the way for a new era of sensibilities and aesthetics.
The Impact of Pop Art
Pop art has had an unmistakable influence on the artistic movements that has followed it. Its celebration of consumerism and mass media has been a defining feature of art from the 1970s onwards, from the works of graphic designers and illustrators, to the rise of street art and music videos. Pop art has also been heavily referenced by fashion designers, filmmakers and video game designers, making its influence one felt in nearly every creative field.
Immediately following World War II, art that featured bright colours, subversive references, and countercultural images had been branded as ‘low culture’ by traditional institutions. However, pop art challenged this perception and established a new aesthetic and mindset as the standard. It also changed the way in which art was viewed, as it was no longer exclusively displayed in galleries and museums, but also on television, on the streets, and in everyday life.
Conclusion
Pop Art revolutionised the art world and its influence can still be felt today. Its bold, vibrant colours and its critiques of consumerism and celebrity culture changed the way we think about art and opened the gates to a new era of aesthetics and sensibilities. Pop Art was a direct reflection of the modern world and it continues to remain relevant through its celebration of popular culture, its vibrant colours, and its commentary on mass consumerism.
Sources:
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/pop-art
https://www.theartstory.org/movement/pop-art/
https://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/pop-art.htm
Tags: Art Movement, Modern Art
Leave a Reply