Utopia 1900 - 1940 Visions on a New World: Visions of a New World - Softcover

Langfeld, Gregor; Bozsan, Judit

9789462081024: Utopia 1900 - 1940 Visions on a New World: Visions of a New World

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9462081026 ISBN 13: 9789462081024

Publisher: NAI Publishers, 2013

At the beginning of the twentieth century, two avant-garde movements emerged that sought to change the world: Expressionism and Constructivism. Utopia 1900-1940 documents the two schools and the work they produced. The leaders of these movements--Franz Marc, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, El Lissitzky, Vladimir Tatlin, Theo van Doesburg and others--believed they were standing at the threshold of a new era, and they sought to shape its reality in a radical way. Together they forged the utopian ideal of "A New Man in a New Society"--a total concept that encompassed art, design and architecture, from paintings to skyscrapers. And yet, philosophically and aesthetically, the two movements were diametrically opposed. For the Expressionists, individual freedom was paramount; for the Constructivists, the individual was part of a larger whole. This amply illustrated volume explores the philosophical, aesthetical and political currents that informed these movements, and the tensions between them.

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From the Back Cover:

At the beginning of the twentieth century, two avantgarde movements emerged that sought to change the world: expressionism and constructivism. Utopia 1900-1940 paints a portrait of the two schools and the inspiring work they produced.
The leaders of these movements believed they were standing at the threshold of a new era, and they sought to shape its reality in a forceful, radical way. They created the utopian concept of A New Man in a New Society: a total concept that encompassed art, architecture and design. From teaspoons to skyscrapers, they designed life with the goal of improving human beings and society. Yet philosophically the two movements were diametrically opposed. For the expressionists, individual freedom came first; for the constructivists, the individual was first and foremost part of a larger whole.
This book provides depth and context for the exhibition at Leiden's Museum De Lakenhal through contributions from experts and showcases the most important works.

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