Art History 28

Art History Essay

Australian artists during the 1930's and 1960's dealt with the social and political turmoils which occurred during the great depression by depicting the problems in their works. During this time, Australian artists became social realists. Yosl Bergner and Noel Counihan are examples of political artists and had a very strong social and political conscience. The artists always depicted the cruelty and suffering the society was facing and responded to their own voices. Common matter such as poverty, homelessness, isolation, drunkenness, immorality, general sadness and depression were just some of the things that were portrayed in these artists' works. Similar to the social realists there was also a group called the angry penguins, who which used similar colours and subject matter in their works. Artists such as Albert Tucker and Arthur Boyd were angry penguins and believed that whatever the artist wanted to paint they should paint it. The group explored social issues and Australian myths. They wanted to use European styles and adapt those styles to create Australian landscapes and colours. They also wanted Australian artists to take on board all the modern European styles and interpret those styles to Australian culture.

Albert Tucker was apart of the angry penguins and exposed the problems faced from the war and how society were throwing away their morals and values. One of Tucker's friend said of one series of his works, "that he dealt not in prettiness, but unsettling truths." The same could be applied to most of his life's work. Throughout his lifetime, Albert Tucker's work represents a reactive response to the issues and the environment surrounding him. Often difficult and abrasive, the work reflects the artists struggle to come to terms with a society he was at odds with, with whom he did not share a moral ground. The scenes he took in of Melbourne, and especially of Melbourne night life gave rise to the Images of Modern Evil series,... [continues]

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