Art As A Political Statement

Throughout the ages art has been a way for people to express many things, including documenting a place or certain era, allowing individuals to express their feelings, beliefs, theories and dreams. One huge factor that influenced the way that artists expressed themselves was the society they live in. Politics, race, economics, and war are all major influences in the famous artwork we see in museums today. Two artists in particular that drew deep inspiration from politics are Max Beckmann and Ben Shaun. Though both artists are from completely different art movements, they share several close similarities in their passion for art.

Max Beckmann, a German artist, was a part of an art group within the Expressionist movement called Die Neue Sachlichkeit (The New Objectivity). Beckmann began studying art in 1900 at Grossherzogliche Kunstschule, an art academy in Weimar. After completing his studies he made several trips to Paris to paint and endeavor in the art scene. After moving to Berlin he became a very accomplished painter in Impressionism styles by painting landscapes, self portraits, scenes of mythology and religious subjects. When World War 1 broke out in 1914 Beckmann was a supporter of the war and joined German forces in medical corps. After a year of duty, Beckmann suffered a mental break down and was medically discharged. (Max). After the war there was a huge change in Beckmann’s painting. The colors in his painting became more vivid, the subjects that he was painting were malicious, depicting scenes of death and torture. After seeing combat, Beckmann realized the tragedies and inhumanity of war. He often used allegorical figures in his paintings and kept this signature for the rest of his life (Beginning). One of the most famous of Beckmann’s painting was Night.

This painting depicts three intruders in a small room that are injuring what is said to be a husband and wife. The husband is being hanged and appears to be screaming in, while the wife who has eligibly been raped and is bound by her hands. There is also another woman that is cowering in the corner on the painting (Gardner’s). The crowded composition of the painting gives off the idea of utter confusion and chaos that is taking place within the scene. Red is the dominant color within the painting and I wonder to myself if it’s just a coincidence or irony that red is the color of blood and that within this scene much blood was shed. You could also relate the color red to the war in which Beckmann served in. The dominant color of red that is also seen in many of his other painting could be a symbolism of the high amount of bloodshed he saw during action. This painting in particular has a lot to say about Beckmann’s new view on the world. The war really did change his mind into believing that humans are cold and heartless creatures.

Unlike Max Beckmann, Ben Shaun was a Jewish immigrant that came with his mother to Brooklyn in 1906 to meet up his father who a socialist. While living in America Shaun became an apprentice to a lithographer which paved the way for his art career (Common). In later years Shaun studied at New York University and the National Academy of Design. At college he met Walker Evans a photographer who he shared a studio space with and whom influenced him on starting his own photography. From there Shaun worked on morals and other commissioned work. However, his first major paintings that got him into the art scene and the most famous pieces were created in his earlier years when he began painting in the Social Realism movement.

The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti was a serious of twenty three painting that were inspired from the murder of two anarchists (Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti) who were blackmailed and executed (Ben). Shaun also created ink drawings, three serigraphs, and a mosaic mural on the trial. Ben Shaun identified with these two men because he believed they fell victim to the Red Scare, a period of intense anti-foreigner sentiment suffered by Jews, Italians and other immigrants (The Passion). Shaun profoundly stood up for these men when justice could not be found and they were wrongfully trialed and hanged. The most famous of this collection being the painting of Sacco and Vanzetti outside of the courthouse in their coffins with two attorneys holding lilies and the judge standing over them. In my opinion one of the most interesting things about this painting is the solemn look about the three men’s faces. There they stand before two dead men who were wrongfully convicted without any representation of feelings on their face. It makes the mood of the painting feel very eerie and you get that idea that something isn’t right. Which is most likely what Shaun wanted viewers to experience when they looked at the painting. Going back to Shaun’s background I believe that his dad was possibly quite a big influence on his politically beliefs. Whatever the reason may be Ben Shaun used art to express his feeling on politics and the injustices in American Society.

Both artists, Max Beckmann and Ben Shaun are extremely influential artists in history. Though both artists were from different backgrounds and art movement there is two things they both greatly have in common. One being the passion to put worth their own ideas on society and politics in a visual way to share with others. These two artists weren’t afraid to express their thoughts and theories on a subject that most people tend to keep quiet. By breaking boundaries they made world history and are globally known for making a difference. Another great similarity is the effect that politics have on their art, beliefs, and lifestyles.