Modernism Takes a Break

Magazine design, 1966

The modern movement in the visual arts is often defined as mid-20th-century modern, although the movement began in the late-19th century

A modern room about 1910

as a reaction to the past.

It's difficult for us to decide about the decorating

trends in this room from the same time period.

Is it modern or not?

Certainly the stove disguised as a baroque

piece of furniture is not modern---but

that wallpaper might be the ultimate in new trends.

There was often a conflict for

advocates of modernism. In Europe

the rising agressive nationalism was

in conflict with the so-called international

style. Some were conflicted about rejecting

their glorious design past.

In establishing a national identify worth fighting about, politicians advocated

incorporating folkloric designs into modernism.

Modern adaptation of German peasant dress in Hitler's Germany.

In the U.S. modernism was combined with 

a "colonial" look to create an invented glorious past,

an "authentic" traditional look.

The Colonial Revival was a popular mish-mash

of modern and not modern.

About 1970, modernism became old-fashioned (an oxymoron if there ever was one.)

Why?

1) Taste swings between cluttered and austere.

People were tired of visual austerity.

It was time for a Victorian revival

2) New generations want to distance

themselves from Grandmother's taste.

The 1936 movie may have been called Modern Times,

but the trendy set looked old-fashioned by 1975.

3) Modernism had a lot of rules. The younger

generation was interested in eclectic design

ideas.

Could Grandma have been modern?

4) We had a hard time identifying modernism

Metal furniture by Norman Bel-Geddes

and what we could identify we didn't like.

All of which sent modernism into retirement.

Until everything switched again.

The 21st century's younger generation wants to distance itself

from the taste of the old. 

Austerity has replaced clutter.

Chair by Norman Bel-Geddes

And modern is hip again.

(Oops! My nephews told me not to use the word hip. It's not hip.)

How about:

 Modern is groovy again.

You see my point.