Modern Art as Viewed by T.J. Clark Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Modern Art as Viewed by T.J. Clark - Essay Example The essay "Modern Art as Viewed by T.J. Clark" provides the view on modern art by T.J. Clark. Paris is said to be the birthplace of habits of leisure, consumption and commerce that are now named as â€Å"modern life†-- explicitly captured in paintings, sculpture and architecture which are collectively called the â€Å"modern art.† Modern art is a term which is usually associated with forms of art that were done in the spirit of experimentation and in which the traditions and practices of the past have been disregarded. These arts are representations of rejection of the established academic tradition in favor of more naturalistic representation of the world. Pioneers of this kind of art were called Romantics, Realists and Impressionists; by the late 19th century, additional movements called Post-Impressionism and Symbolism also emerged. Connected with the concepts of modernity and modern art is a Marxist art historian named Timothy J. Clark. A native of Bristol, England, Clark received his education at Bristol Grammar School, Cambridge University and at the Courtauld Institute of Art at the University of London. His work experiences include his stint as a lecturer at Essex University from 1967-1969; as a senior lecturer at the Camberwell School of Art from 1970-1974; as a visiting professor and subsequently as an associate professor at the University of California; as chair of the Fine Arts Department of Leeds University in 1976; and as a member of the School of Fine Arts faculty at Harvard University. where he encountered quite a number of his detractors who were among the traditional and connoisseurship-based faculty. (T.J. Clark) Currently, he holds the George C. and Helen N. Pardee Chair as Professor of Modern Art at the University of California. (U.C. Berkeley History of Art 2005) Going back to the concept of modern art, this was discussed by T. J. Clark in reference to Paris in his book entitled The Painting of Modern Life: Paris in the Art of Manet and His Followers. In this book, Clark questioned those who view Impressionism only in terms of artistic technique, and likewise describes the works of Manet, Degas, Seurat and others as an attempt to give form to the "modern life" by focusing on its typical representatives, which are basically the various "modern city" workers. (Clark, T.J.: The Painting of Modern Life: Paris in the Art of Manet and His Followers 2008) Concomitantly, Clark views Paris as the birthplace of the "modern art", where changes therein went beyond the cultural and ideological refurbishing to the more encompassing economic transformation. (T.J. Clark: Manet in situ 1986) Samples of the specific arguments and discussion that could be found in the book are the following: 1.) Manet's Olympia caused scandal at the 1865 Salon because the painting disobeyed the "rules of the nude." Furthermore, in addition to the nude body on bed, the woman's hand is considered to be a detail, which the critics wrongly focused on; 2.) Manet's disregard of the so-called "good modeling" and the abruptness which characterized his lights and darks can be seen in the Olympia. Such aspects have been criticized by some writers in 1865, describing such as "circled in black", "drawn in charcoal", and "stripes of blacking"; and 3.) certain paintings suggested the fact that classes coexisted, but never touched. (Clark 1985) As seen in the title of the book, Manet's art is given emphasis in reference to the