Avant-Garde Movements, Early 20th Century Architecture, Stalinism, and WWII Causes
The Avant-Garde
Fauvism: Fauve means “beast” in French. It was a style of painting with vivid and non-naturalistic colors. Key artist: Matisse.
Expressionism: A cultural movement that involved art, theater, literature, and cinema that started in Germany. Art was used to depict human emotions. Key artists: Munch (The Scream), Grosz (Metropolis).
Cubism: An artistic style developed in France that simplified the representation of figures by using geometric shapes with no reference to depth. Key artists: Picasso, Braque, Archipenko (Sculpture).
Futurism: Focused on the technological progress of the modern machine age. Artists tried to achieve movement and dynamism in their art. Key artists: Boccioni, Carrà.
Dadaism: Developed in Germany after the First World War when artists contemplated its consequences. They rebelled against established forms and aimed to provoke, using new techniques such as the ready-made, incorporating everyday objects. Key artist: Duchamp.
Surrealism: Artists didn’t try to depict reality but dream-like images or imaginary scenes. Key artists: Dalí, Magritte.
Abstract Art: Artists believed that art has its own language, so there’s no need to depict real scenes or objects. They combined colors and shapes. Key artists: Kandinsky, Miró, Mondrian. Key sculptor: Brancusi.
Architecture in the Early 20th Century
Modernist Architecture
It used new materials like iron and reinforced concrete. In this style, architects designed every aspect of the building, including furniture. Characteristics: curves, wavy lines, organic motifs as decoration. This style is linked to the bourgeoisie. Key architects: Gaudí, Horta.
Functionalism and Rationalism
This style maintains the strictly functional design of buildings, so decorative features are eliminated. Key architects: Bauhaus (school), Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier.
Characteristics of Stalinism
All political power was held by Stalin: He approved the 1936 Constitution. He used propaganda and repression to impose his dictatorship. He tried to spread communism around Europe through the Comintern (Third International).
The economy was planned and controlled by Stalin, who introduced a series of five-year plans, which aimed to achieve the rapid industrialization of the USSR.
The objectives of these plans were:
- Collectivization of the land by expropriation by force and the obligation of the workers to cultivate the land collectively.
- In a Sovkhoz (a Soviet-owned farm), the land was owned by the State, and workers were paid a wage.
- In a Kolkhoz (a collectively-owned farm), the land was owned by the cooperative, and the workers received part of the harvest as a wage.
- Nationalization of existing industries and investment in heavy industry and capital goods, at the expense of consumer goods.
- The construction of hydraulic works to increase the production of electricity.
Stalin aimed to establish social equality. However, there were differences between the governing elite and the rest of the population. There was hunger because agricultural production was destined for export.
Causes of World War II
National discontent: At the end of World War I, both Germany and Italy were unhappy because Germany had lost territory to Poland and Czechoslovakia, and Italy had not been given the territory it wanted in the Mediterranean. This discontent gave rise to a desire to recover those territories.
Economic protectionism: During the Great Depression, European governments adopted protectionist policies to reduce imports. These measures forced countries to find new markets for their products, increasing tension between countries.
Expansionist policies: Germany, Italy, and Japan wanted to expand their territories to acquire raw materials and to satisfy their territorial demands.
Appeasement policies: Great Britain supported a policy of appeasement towards Germany and Italy. As a result, the territorial expansion of these countries was tolerated to maintain peace.
The failure of the League of Nations: The League of Nations, created to keep the peace, was unable to meet its objectives, as its measures were limited to economic and political actions. The League cut commercial and diplomatic relations with countries that had acted aggressively and expelled countries from the League. Any country that threatened the peace could be expelled. For example, the USSR was expelled after invading Finland. Italy, Germany, and Japan had already left.