Early Modern Blog

 The Great Depression 

    The Great Depression began in 1929 and ended in 1939, it was a long and an extremely bad decline in the economic activity. There was a lot of unemployment's during this time which made it difficult for people to pay for the mandatory things and they ended up losing their houses and many more. The stock market crashed, it effected individuals, businesses, and banks. During this time a lot of immigration happened hoping they can find work somewhere else, a lot of crime started to occur, living standards also dropped. 


    "Sharecroppers' Revolt" by Joseph Paul Vorst was created in January of 1939 in Missouri. Vorst created this piece to represent the effects that happened during the Great Depression. Farmers got evicted from their house and had to move into shacks. Vorst used elements such as color, tone, and texture for this piece. He used color to create a sad, loss of hope, confusion feeling to the piece, he used tone to create a dramatic atmosphere, and physical texture on the cloth in this painting from the shack and clothing on everyone. The emotions that I get from this painting is sadness and uncertainty. 

 

    "PH-80" by Clyfford Still was created in 1939 in Maryland. Still created this piece to represent people who were starving and feeling defeat from the Great Depression. Still used elements such as color to make the painting look dramatic, tone to make the background darker than the people so they stick out, and shape to control the way we feel for this painting. The emotions that I get from this painting is angry, exhaustion, and confusion.  


    For the last image I decided to go with a photography. "White Angel Breadline" by Dorothea Lange. This was captured in 1933 in San Francisco. This photo represent the Great Depression because of how dark and sad it is, the mans face/body language is very worried, and his cups emptiness shows how little people had during the time. 

Works Cited 

“Dorothea Lange + White Angel Breadline.” The Kennedy Center, www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/media-arts/dorothea-lange-white-angel-breadline/. Accessed 7 Nov. 2023.

Jim. “Art Sunday #81: Joseph Paul Vorst – Sharecroppers’ Revolt.” Random Writings on the Bathroom Wall, 31 July 2016, mnghostt.wordpress.com/2016/07/31/art-sunday-81-joseph-paul-vorst-sharecroppers-revolt/.

“PH-80, 1935.” Clyfford Still Museum Online Collection, collection.clyffordstillmuseum.org/object/ph-80. Accessed 7 Nov. 2023.


Comments

  1. MGallagherNovember 7, 2023 at 9:37 PM

    The first painting utilizes an interesting, almost blurry look. I don't mind this piece, but it is a little difficult to parse upon first glance. The bulging perspective and dark shadows help to contribute to the mood of the people in the scene. It's easy to see how this image of abject poverty relates to the depression. Interestingly, I can't tell what time of year this is meant to be. Whether this is from the lack of detail in the background or the shifting colors, I don't know.

    The second is almost shocking in the contrast of its bright colors to the last one. I can feel the emotion from their defeated postures and emaciated figures. Strangely, they appear to have a picnic basket, and the bright colors seem almost dissonant to the overall mood of the painting. However, I suppose if you are going to live through the Great Depression, you may as well have a bright yellow dress to lift your spirits.

    The last one is an excellent example of good photography. The way we see only the man's face while everyone else is facing away draws the eye towards the focal point. It makes you wonder why what caught everyone else's attention does not seem to affect the man. Breadlines are not a nice experience I would guess, especially with the general terrible mood hard times give everyone.

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  2. Alayna WalkerNovember 8, 2023 at 9:15 PM

    Hi there! Excellent blog, I like your art piece choices. I also picked a Dorothea Lange photo called "Migrant Mother," and I can't say enough about how impactful her photography is. I love the composition of this photo, as it's a sea of black with a focus on the man's empty cup. She was such a wonderful photographer, and it's hard not to feel a tug at your heartstrings when you look at her work.

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  3. Andrell WalkerNovember 9, 2023 at 3:31 PM

    The way you depicted the great depression within these portraits are very nice. It gives me an idea of the struggle that was happening in the period, and the tones show the depths of the photos. The overall vibe of the great depression was hard, and artist portrayed that in their work.

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