The
industrial revolution and its effects on the world have been a topic of study
in several history classes I have taken previously. I have never studied this period in the context of its
influence on art however, so for this week, I decided to focus on the
industrialism aspect of the lesson in order to broaden my knowledge on a topic I
already have some familiarity with.
When
I initially thought of the industrial revolution, I saw it as counter to
creativity and art. The idea that
materials be mass-produced and come out identical to one another seems
antagonistic to the individualism normally associated to art in my mind. In addition, industrialism even led to
the decline of artisan tradition, in which skilled craftsmen used to produce
materials as an art form (Kristofferson 2).
Artisans at Work
As
pointed out my Dr. Vesna however, the industrialization of society gave rise to
new art forms and artistic movements despite leading to the end of others. The most obvious in the context of this
class is that it laid the foundation for what would eventually become automaton
and robot art but there are others that are not as technologically involved
(Vesna).
One example is
the Bohemian movement that arose during the industrialist era of central
Europe. Bohemian culture arose
against the rising bourgeoisie in industrial France and stressed free living
and artistic pursuit (Bohemianism and Counterculture). Additionally, the period of
industrialism served as an inspiration and a subject for art in different
mediums such as the film Moulin Rouge
or the painting Coalbrookdale by Night by
Phillip James De Loutherbourg (Art and Artistic Reactions to the Industrial
Revolution; Industrial Revolution Movies).
Phillip James De Loutherbourg's Coalbrookdale by Night
Moulin Rouge: A film based on the Bohemianism that arose in France during Industrialization
Ultimately these
ample examples of art that arose in response to and because of industrialization
demonstrate that although it led to the decline of certain art forms, others
arose to take their place. This
speaks to the dynamic nature of art as it transforms with the culture producing
it.
Works Cited
"Art and Artistic Reactions to the Industrial
Revolution." History, Trade,
and Art. Web. 18 Apr. 2015.
<http://historytradeart.blogspot.com/2010/05/art-and-artistic-reactions-to.html>.
Bohemianism and Counterculture. Web. 18 Apr. 2015.
<https://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255-s01/boheme/welcome.html>.
"Industrial Revolution Movies." Screen Junkies. Web. 18 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/genres-movies/war-movies/industrial-revolution-movies/>.
Kristofferson, Robert. Craft Capitalism:
Craftworkers and Early Industrialization in Hamilton, Ontario, 1840-1872. Toronto: U of Toronto, 2007. Print.
Vesna, Victoria. "Robots." YouTube. YouTube. Web. 18 Apr. 2015.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=142&v=cRw9_v6w0ew>.
Your focus on the reaction to industrialization is interesting and rings true throughout all times of great change in history. Even today, with capitalism encroaching into every part of life, there is an artisan counter culture (attempting) to combat mass production. Will the hipsters on Etsy and at craft fairs defeat the exploitation of the proletariat once and for all??? (Maybe not.)
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