I heard
about Avant-garde so many times in fashion and art. However, I guess that not
many people certainly know about this term’s meaning. Originally, Avant-garde means that troop which
rush and take the lead, when fighting a battle as military term. And then, in
early of 19th century, it used in politics term which is indicated
who become the spearhead for class strife. From middle of 19th
century, it was settled as artistic term which is changed the revolutionary art
trend or movement. Therefore, avant-garde is artistic movement which defiance
to conventional authority and tradition and put up the action for revolutionary
spirit or art. It is not indicated to particular principle or form, but it used
in radical sprite of art in new age such as cubism, expressionism, surrealism
things. And actually, developing machine civilization, expanding social
consciousness things are some factor for this. Personally, I have positive opinion for
avant-garde. I think that creative and revolutionary thinking is always helpful
to make new and develop things. If all people afraid of challenge to new
things, I guess that the world could not be developed this much. Also, in the
art world, many different styles of arts are existed and I think that
avant-garde is one of parts. As the
video, Manet’s Luncheon on the Grass is unusual style painting so evaluate is
like polar opposite. I think that this Manet’s painting could be challenge to viewer.
Especially, naked woman is real person not a goddess or nymph, so people felt uncomfortable.
Also, two men are also real person and people felt embarrassed that point out the
hypocrisy of bourgeois. To viewer, this painting was new to viewer not only the
subject but also formal aspect of it. Manet was depicted the landscape but did
not used any perspective for size and position. At that time, people were used
to perspective details for the landscape, so they could not felt any depth for
the space. For example, the middle of the woman who is having a bath was
painted too bigger than right side ship. So definitely people confused about
perspective for this painting. In addition, Manet described the color but did
not use light and shade by adjusting hue. When he described some object, he resolutely
left out the middle tone and painted with green and brown color. Consequently, objects’
details became simplify but silhouette was emphasized. This painting did not
give a depth for space but flatness is stand out. Maybe people thought that why
this painting goes to backward style. However, Manet did not care about
conventional style he made his painting. It could be unusual and uncomfortable,
but it is not wrong. It is just one of unique styles. Because of this kind of
subject and technique, this painting considered as starting modernism style. I
think that before Manet appeared, purpose of art was delivered some subject as
feeling and principle. However, Monat made viewer have attention to formal
characteristics as art. Some of these reasons made Manet as pioneer of modern
painting.
