In the 1960’s, painting had been declared dead. Conceptualism and Minimalism became the “Avant-Garde” and painters, especially of the figure, were pushed aside. However, in the late 1970’s and 1980’s painters asserted themselves and showed that painting had not died. They challenged the coolness and detachment of the styles of the Avante-Garde. They drew upon paint’s emotional and narrative power. The style of this time-period is sometimes referred to as “Neo-Expressionism.” Painting of this period, however, went beyond the expressionism of the early 1900’s. This Study Group will follow artists who painted in Germany, came to full recognition in the 1980’s and served as an inspiration to artists in other countries for the revitalization of painting. This group will first observe how German artists, who had been very young during the war, used paint to express their angst over the role of Germany in WWII and its division into East and West after the War. Then the group will see how they and younger artists used paint to express their attitudes about the post-war economy and society’s restrictions. Some of these artists will deconstruct painting to create an uncertain yet fertile field for new possibilities.

Reading materials and sources: The facilitator will post art for each week in the Study Group Downloads. She will send optional readings to members of the group.

Note: This study group is primarily lecture/presentation style.