All tagged 20th Century
This season, I’m rounding up stories about modern artists in love, in lust, in relationships— digging into these individuals, see how their liaisons, marriages, affairs, and connections played in or on their respective works of art, and how, if anything, they affected art history as we know it. I, for one, believe that it’s time for Modern Love.
Today: we’re enjoying the story of one supremely confident couple, incredibly supportive of one another and individually talented, two makers who epitomized the explosion of creativity that was the Harlem Renaissance, and who helped shape American art. Meet Jacob Lawrence and Gwendolyn Knight.
CURIOUS CALLBACK: The Wild and Wonderful World of Weegee
In this “Curious Callback” episode, we’re revisiting one of our favorite weirdos—Weegee!— whom we featured in Episode 5, alongside Andy Warhol. Today, Weegee gets his full due with a deep dive into his life and work.
A Little Curious #7: A Reintroduction, and Cave Paintings
Surprise! We’re re-introducing our short-form series, “A Little Curious,” which will give you sweet snippets of bonus content on the “off” weeks between our normal episodes. In today’s episode, we’re jumping into cave paintings, often deemed the oldest of the old in art history--and while cave paintings sound, well, basic at the outset, we’re going to discover today why they are actually cool.
Episode #77: Cursed Art: The Terracotta Army (Season 9, Episode 1)
In our ninth season, in a topic suggested by you, our listeners, we’re uncovering the backstory behind some of the world’s most famed “cursed” objects in art, architecture, and archaeology. Today, we’re beginning with one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the late 20th century: the grand funeral complex of Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, known as the “Terracotta Army.”
Episode #76: Art Auction Audacity-- O'Keeffe's Jimson Weed/White Flower #1 (Season 8, Episode 8)
In our eighth season, we’re exploring examples of some of the most expensive artworks ever sold at auction considering why they garnered so much money, and discovering their backstories. Today, our season finale: Georgia O’Keeffe’s Jimson Weed/White Flower #1 .
Episode #74: Art Auction Audacity-- Klimt's Adele Bloch-Bauer I (Season 8, Episode 6)
In our eighth season, we’re exploring examples of some of the most expensive artworks ever sold, considering why they garnered so much money, and discovering their backstories. Today: Gustav Klimt’s Adele Bloch-Bauer I.
Episode #72: Art Auction Audacity-- Rothko's No. 6 (Violet, Green, and Red) (Season 8, Episode 4)
In our eighth season, we’re exploring examples of some of the most expensive artworks ever sold at auction considering why they garnered so much money, and discovering their backstories. Today: Mark Rothko’s No. 6 (Violet, Green, and Red).
Episode #71: Art Auction Audacity-- Cézanne's The Card Players (Season 8, Episode 3)
In our eighth season, we’re exploring examples of some of the most expensive artworks ever sold at auction considering why they garnered so much money, and discovering their backstories. Today: Paul Cézanne’s The Card Players.
Episode #69: Art Auction Audacity: Modigliani’s Nu Couché (Season 8, Episode 1)
In our eighth season, we’re exploring examples of some of the most expensive artworks ever sold at auction considering why they garnered so much money, and discovering their backstories, beginning with Amadeo Modigliani’s Nu Couché.
BONUS EPISODE: The Wild and Wonderful World of Weegee
In this bonus episode, we’re revisiting one of our favorite weirdos—Weegee!— whom we featured in Episode 5, alongside Andy Warhol. Today, Weegee gets his full due with a deep dive into his life and work.
CURIOUS CALLBACK: Episode #1: Is the Mona Lisa a Fake? (UPDATED Season 1, Episode 1) PART TWO
The inaugural episode of the ArtCurious Podcast explores the world's most famous work of art: Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. It is iconic, incredible, and unforgettable-- but is the work on view in Paris's Louvre Museum today the real deal? Host Jennifer Dasal uncovers the story of the Mona Lisa from its creation in the 16th century through its 1911 theft and to its current status as untouchable superstar, breaking down the strange stories and rumors swirling around it.
CURIOUS CALLBACK: Episode #1: Is the Mona Lisa a Fake? (UPDATED Season 1, Episode 1) PART ONE
The inaugural episode of the ArtCurious Podcast explores the world's most famous work of art: Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. It is iconic, incredible, and unforgettable-- but is the work on view in Paris's Louvre Museum today the real deal? Host Jennifer Dasal uncovers the story of the Mona Lisa from its creation in the 16th century through its 1911 theft and to its current status as untouchable superstar, breaking down the strange stories and rumors swirling around it.
Episode #46: Shock Art: Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (Season 4, Episode 7)
Works that we take for granted today as masterpieces, or as epitomes of the finest of fine art, could also have been considered ugly, of poor quality, or just bad when they were first made. With the passage of time comes a calm and an acceptance. But that doesn’t change the fact that there are many works peppered throughout art history that were straight-up shocking to the public when they were first presented decades, or even hundreds of years ago.
Today's work of "shock art:" Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.
Episode #31: Season Finale, Art and WWII- The Long Shadow (Season 2, Episode 11)
World War Two was the bloodiest, biggest, and most destructive war of all time, decimating entire countries and taking the lives of millions. And as we have learned over the last 10 episodes of the ArtCurious Podcast this season, art was affected in many different ways due to the impact of the war. Art was used to document the experience of soldiers in battle; created to shape public opinion, values, and inspire the war effort; and to fight the enemy. It was a failed dream of Adolf Hitler, leading us to ask how art could have changed the course of history. And it was a victim in many ways, destroyed, looted, or impossibly altered during the course of events. But after the war ended in 1945 and the dust settled throughout Europe and other theaters of war, the effect of war on the art world lessened and the connections between the two softened. Right? Actually, that’s not what happened at all. And the effects of the Second World War are still being felt throughout the art world today.
Episode #30: Art and Remembrance (Season 2, Episode 10)
It's interesting that literature seems to have cornered the market on artistic depictions of those who experienced the Holocaust firsthand. We think of The Diary of Anne Frank or Elie Wiesel’s Night first and foremost when we think of how war has been creatively represented by those who survived it-- or didn’t survive it. But it turns out that there were many artists who made visual representations of their experiences, too-- and lots of these individuals were prisoners, like Anne eventually became, in concentration camps.
Episode #29: The Monuments Men (Season 2, Episode 9)
Ah, Hollywood. Nothing goes further than a big celebrity-studded movie to grab your pop-culture attention and to inspire countless articles and think-pieces about a particular topic. A really solid blockbuster can raise a niche book to bestseller status or inspire hopeful imitators. And it can lead to a renewed interest in a certain time period or subject matter. In the case of the 2014 film, The Monuments Men, all of this was certainly true. With superstar George Clooney directing and acting alongside Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett and American treasure Bill Murray, among others, The Monuments Men was almost a guaranteed hit when it was released in February 2014. But if your knowledge of the incredible individuals known as The Monuments Men stems only from this movie--well, then, I’m sorry. And I say that with no disrespect to Mr. Clooney and his team, but honestly? This cinematic take is a well-meaning but saccharine mess. The real story of the men--and women--who risked their own lives to save thousands of works of art is far more fascinating, dangerous, and important, even today.