"Avant-garde"

            In the early 1800’s Modern art began to develop. Artists like Manet helped produce Modernist traditions which utilize a canvas as a flat surface rather than creating an illusion of depth within the canvas. In some cases “avant-gardism” is seen in Manet’s paintings, one of which was Luncheon on the Grass. This is interesting because there have been many different positive and negative connotations for the term “avant-garde” over the years.

Originally the term “avant-garde” meant to move society forward, Saint-Simon thought that art should help change the world. In early “avant-garde” paintings there are characteristics of referencing the art world to express awareness, and was distinctly different than anyone had ever seen at that time. To some, “avant-garde” means challenging conventions striving forward, and creating something different than traditions of the Academy. Sometimes “avant-garde” was used to describe art in a negative way because these paintings could not be read, lacked a story and in many ways appeared odd. Modernist artists began to apply thick layers of paint with many visible brushstrokes in areas of emphasis, traditionally artist at that time were applying little paint with nearly invisible brushstrokes for a smooth finish. Gautier felt that art should be useless, in other words “art for art’s sake.” Later in the 1960’s Greenberg agrees with Gautier in a way that Modern art should be aesthetically pleasing to the viewer and that art should not have any references to the world.

            If someone asked me to define “avant-garde,” I might have defined it as art that takes it to the next level and challenges the norm. I think I would have connected “avant-garde” to artwork produced during the Modern art of the 1960’s. Personally, I feel that “avant-garde” or Modern art can move society forward, express awareness, be useful or art can be nothing and something at the same time. Art should flow from the artist as they see fit.

Perhaps Manet created Luncheon on the Grass in 1863 to present change in art, to move forward in the art world and a reaction to the Academy. Manet submitted the painting to the Academy in 1863 and was rejected. The Academy probably rejected this painting because the surface is not smooth and appears unfinished. The background is splotchy, flat and stage like with very visible brushstrokes. The painting lacks illusion of depth. The woman in the background is too large for how far away she appears. There is no story that explains way the painting is the way it is. Objects in the painting do not make sense together; some fruit are in season while others are not. Later the painting was included in a salon for the rejected paintings. The rejection salon was one of the largest events. Most people likely went to laugh at the art, maybe they laughed because they did not know what else to do, and it was a surprise to see something so different.

            Manet’s painting Luncheon on the Grass could be considered “avant-garde.” This painting was very different than art the Academy was accepting at the time, which consisted of flawless idealized nude women. The Luncheon provides a nude woman, yet she is not provocative, staring at the viewer in a way bringing awareness to how art had gotten increasingly provocative. The painting is “avant-garde” in a sense that the thick layers of paint Manet created are a beginning of creating “art for art’s sake.” Manet creates his painting to be flat like the canvas he began with, rather than a window into a virtual world. One characteristic of “avant-garde” art is it at times makes no sense, as does Monet’s where the subject matter is unclear.

            The term “avant-garde” can mean many different things, positive and negative, it can be a reference to Modern art. “Avant-garde” can be applied to art from the 1800’s to art that is being produced today. Manet’s Painting of Luncheon on the Grass can be considered the beginning of Modern art.