| January 18, 2003 |
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Eye Contact
In  the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sigmund Freud explored the nature of the self, while Charles Darwin undercut established notions of humanity and moral character. Inspired by these new points of view, artists questioned notions of a fixed, externally evident identity and expressed their new sensibilities in portraiture. This Smithsonian site showcases bold, modern portraits from the 1880s to the 1980s that look the viewer in the eye, reflecting the self-consciousness of 20th-century artists. These portraits embrace celebrity culture, theatricality, gender, race, the body, humor, and film. While some have said that portraiture lost its relevance and became extinct by mid-century, this site proves otherwise. (in Art History) |
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