33. Primitivism, Naïve & Folk Art (1700 - The Present)
What was it about? What were the goals?
This is a tricky question because 'primitivism' wasn’t so much a movement as an idea - a look - that applies to many different artists and movements: Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, and so on. And it’s not one idea but two. Primitivism refers to amateur, 'naïve' art made without formal academic training - the artist is 'self-taught'. But, it also refers to a racist notion that art made from certain cultures was primitive - nations in Africa, Asia, the Near East, and the pre-Colombian Americas.
The central component of Primitivism was a rejection of western academic training and realism in favor of a more "honest”, “natural”, and child-like way of art making. This idea was spurred in the early 20th century through exhibitions of tribal art and artifacts from cultures the west labelled “primitive.”
Many modern artists, including Picasso, were inspired by this “Primitive” art, and so they bought art objects from these cultures, and used them in their work.
This raises questions of what it means to be primitive, if these cultures were being presented fairly, and these questions all relate this notion of Primitivism with Orientalism, similarly accused of reinforcing negative stereotypes of 'exotic' people and places, used to justify colonialism and oppression.
So, some academically trained artists studied tribal art and used it in their works, while others simply refused to ever learn realism or linear perspective, instead forming a simple, child-like style––what’s now known as Naïve, Primitive, or Folk Art. Some Primitive art, like that of Gauguin, you can say really did exoticize foreigners. He moved to Tahiti and painted people there. But, a lot of Primitive art is just people living in their home towns, and painting whatever’s around them (see below).
Igor Stravinsky is credited for composing 'primitive' music with his Rite of Spring, a ballet telling the story of a human sacrifice in pre-Christian Russia. But the music itself is part of the western, modern tradition. I've only heard this turn applied to visual art.
Although I’m not a big fan, it really depends on the artist. Henri Rousseau is probably the foremost Primitive artist - his works stand out for their detail, originality, the power of his storytelling, and the tell-tale style. Paul Klee is much more abstract, but again his work is completely original, energetic, and quite child-like. Frida Kahlo's an excellent painter who illustrated her life and all the struggles she faced. Most people don't refer to her work as primitive, for fear of slighting her - but look at her style and compare it with the other artists. I think it fits - as does a great deal of Expressionist art. There's a very fine line between Expressionism, Fauvism, and Primitivism.
Having said that, one of the main points to Primitivism is originality, of painting in your own way, and not how some academics want you to paint. Ironically, if you look at a lot of Naïve or Folk art, it mostly looks like it was painted by the same person. It turns out, to find your unique style and imagery–– your artist's voice––you really do have to train. Naïve artists copy just as much as anyone else. And, with primitive art you can also find yourself asking, wait, did a child make this, or is it worth a lot of money? How much?
Henri Rousseau (1844-1910)
Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) (see Post Impressionism)
Paul Klee (1879-1940)
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) (See Cubism)
Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986)
Grant Wood (1891-1942)
Wifredo Lam (1902-1982)
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)
Fernando Botero (1932-)
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