Deco Art In The 1920s

The 1920s are known as the decade of extravagance, and the art in the decade definitely reflected it. Art deco and surrealism both came to popularity in the ‘20s, probably due to the change from the standard lifestyle of the ‘10s to the lavish way of life that only the 1920s could posses. The two art forms, although vastly different, both show two sides of the great Jazz Age. Beginning in France, the art deco design represented the fashion side of modernism. When the style crossed the Atlantic, art deco became simpler. Deco became prevalent in America when manufacturers used the style to add class to their products. The intention was to “create a sleek and antitraditional elegance that symbolized wealth and sophistication” (“Art Deco”). Art deco revolves around creating patterns and designs that buildings and household objects would use. That’s not to say that art deco paintings don’t exist; the style was primarily used as an accessory, not as a main focus piece. The style is seen in many forms, like the Empire State and
Founded by Andre Breton in 1924, this art style also came from France. He believed that classical art “had suppressed the superior qualities of the irrational, unconscious mind” (Editorial). Before World War 1 art similar to surrealism, called Dada, was created to defy reason. But where Dada was focused on the negatives, surrealism art was created in a positive mood (“Surrealism”). Surrealism is often filled with color and design, and usually doesn’t make sense. Although with closer inspection, many paintings become much more understandable and invoke some deeper meanings. Such paintings as The Persistence of Memory by Salvadore Dali and The Son of Man by René Magritte are perfect examples of surrealistic paintings. Surrealistic art is usually flamboyant; it sparks questions and higher thinking. The style is a centerpiece, whereas art deco is