Summary of Understanding 'Bad' Painting in 1970s Art
Understanding 'Bad' Painting in 1970s Art: A Student Guide
Introduction
American figurative painting of the 1970s can be seen as a field of experimentation between tradition and popular print sources. The text below discusses groups of works and stylistic approaches associated with the movement that curator Tucker termed "Bad Painting". The aim is to understand why this "badness" was perceived as an aesthetic choice, what techniques and iconography were used, and their relationship to print, Pop Art, and textile design.
Key Concepts and Structure
What "Bad Painting" Means in the Context of the Text
"Bad Painting": A style in which a 'poor,' unrefined, or unorthodox quality of painting is consciously adopted or staged, disrupting traditional expectations of composition, perspective, or iconography.
In this text, the term does not necessarily imply technical incompetence but rather an aesthetic intention—a shift from 'good' craftsmanship to a choice that emphasizes decorative qualities, printed patterns, or banal objects.
Key Developmental Trends Described in the Text
- References to print sources: advertising posters, magazine illustration, comics, textile patterns.
- Transfer of iconography from print to painting (repetition of motifs, decorative planes, framed central motif).
- Deliberate subversion of traditional painterly values to achieve irony, humor, or the deconstruction of the subject's gravity.
Groups of Works and Their Characteristics
Group A: Symbolic and Allegorical Scenes (Albertson, Carrillo from the text)
- Style: broadly conceived, reminiscent of movie posters or older magazine illustrations.
- Iconography: literary or sci-fi allusions, combining realistic depictions of figures with bizarre objects (e.g., glowing skeletons, mechanical birds).
- Effect: a contrast between a dreamy/serious title and a playful, ironic image.
Group B: Comic Book Outlines and Decorative Planes (Cply, Siler)
- Style: strong outlines, simplified figures, flat colors; in some works, looser drawing and an emphasis on pattern.
- Connections: parallels to works from Chicago (Wirsum, Nilsson) and early Funk art watercolors.
- Assessment: considered 'poor' in the text due to minimal variations and weaker allusions.
Group C: Derivations from P&D and Textile Design (Brown, Garabedian, Hendon, Linhares, Urquhart, Wegman)
- Style: a central motif, often with repeating patterns or a decorative frame; flat colors, broad brushstrokes.
- Material Inspiration: textile design — textile-inspired repeating patterns, borders, and tapestries.
- Example: „Woman Wearing a Mask“ – a combination of advertising content (lingerie, fashion accessories) and casual composition; the mask as a painting within a painting.
Group D: Stencils and Templates (Jenney, Chatelain)
- Inspiration: Jasper Johns and his work with stencils, which allow for the repetition of shapes (flags, targets).
- Character: precise outlines filled with robust impasto drawing; intentional ambivalence between form and surface.
- Perception: sometimes the outlines become mere marks, and the internal impasto dominates, causing the content to be 'lost' or 'trivialized'.
Techniques and Iconography — Elements Explored
- Drawing and Proportions: Despite claims of "poor" drawing, many images maintain classical proportions and foreshortening.
- Flatness and Decorativeness: The emphasis on flat colors, patterns, and repetition of motifs evokes printmaking and textile techniques.
- Irony and Titles: Serious or exaggerated titles contrast with the playful visuals, which enhances the critical effect.
Definition: Iconography: A set of symbols, motifs, and pictorial elements that create meaning within a work.
Comparative Table: Stylistic Sources vs. Key Features
| Source of Inspiration | Main Features in Painting | Examples from the Text |
|---|---|---|
| Print/Poster | Broad strokes, cinematic composition, titular irony | Albertson, Carrillo |
| Comics/Animation | Strong outlines, flat colors, character styliza |
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American Figurative Painting - Bad Painting Approaches
Klíčové pojmy: "Bad Painting" is an aesthetic choice, not necessarily technical incompetence., Inspiration from prints: posters, magazines, and comics strongly influenced compositions., Textile design led to recurring patterns and borders in paintings., Many paintings maintain traditional proportions despite criticism., Jasper Johns inspired the use of stencils and the repetition of shapes., The irony of the titles reinforces the contrast between content and form., Method of analysis: identify the source of iconography, drawing, decorativeness, and irony., The style was diffuse and too marginal to have a significant impact., Practical exercise: compare works across groups and identify print elements., A central motif with flat colors is a common characteristic of Group C.