Nov 2, 2008 8:13 am US/Eastern
CBS 2 At The Met: Rhythms Of Modern Life
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
British print artists had a fascination for Modern Art.
Called Futurists, these artists loved exploring the poetry found in motion. The peak years of this artistic movement happened between World War 1 and the beginning of World War 2.
Life was changing fast in Great Britain and the avant garde style of clean lines and geometrics was leading the way over there.
"Rhythms of Modern Life: British Prints 1914 to 1939," introduces art relatively unknown to Americans.
Associate Curator Samantha Rippner explains to Dana Tyler.
"I think the general thinking is that Modern Art comes out of France and Cubism, and even Germany and German Expressionism. so we really wanted to focus on Britain and the important print-making that was coming out of Britain."
Visitors will want to hold on tight just looking at Cyril Power's "Merry Go Round" from 1929. Rippner says, "Here power takes a very innocent merry go around and transforms it into a demonic funnel of energy where the poor unfortunate passengers hurled around at speed really can't make out they're passengers more become zig zag abstract!"
Artist Claude Flight's "Speed" from 1922 is all British.
"Here Flight is depicting a London street scene, recognizable by this very bright red, double-decker bus that signals that's sort of speeding out of the plane," according to Rippner.
Visitors may recognize a scene of urban life from 1930. "Whence and Whither? The Cascade" may look familiar to subway riders.
"This is an image of faceless figures descending an escalator to train platforms." Tyler says, "It's colorful!"
The tools of these modern artists' trade may remind you of your own crafty efforts from childhood.
"It's basically like making a potato print, every child made print or stamp in nursery school or kindergarten. Obviously this is a more complex version."
The full throttle result that visitors can see in the display case work,is also on an adjoining wall. Cybil Andrews "Speedway" from 1934. "Rhythms of Modern Life: British Prints, 1914 to 1939, at the Met until December 7.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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