More permanent collection items will be added to the website soon!

The Call of the Gazelle at Daybreak, 1950, Oil on canvas Joan Miró [Catalan, 1893-1983]
BMAM: Gift of Miss Ann Smeltzer

Schimmer, 1930, Watercolor and ink on paper
Wassily Kandinsky
[German/Russian/French, 1866-1944]
BMAM: Gift of Miss Ann Smeltzer

Cadiz,1952 Oil on canvas
Robert Motherwell [American, 1915-1991]
BMAM: Gift of Miss Ann Smeltzer

This exhibition takes a closer look at major modern artists in the Blanden’s permanent collection in the context of the difficult period in which the artists lived. The hope is to demonstrate how one might think about style and biography in relation to the historical context of World War II, encouraging patrons to think about their own interpretations of these pieces. Both World Wars exercised immense influence on Europe and America, fracturing and altering both societal and artistic identity in these cultures. The aftermath of the second ‘total war’ and the eventual revelation of tragedies surrounding the Holocaust created anxiety and criticism about the state of modern societies, as well as the pervading influence of ‘Old World’ values. Also thrown into sharp relief were the most basic issues of humanity and the value of individual human life.

The transition from the early 20th century into the postmodern age we now live in constitutes an era of controversial and rapid change. Experimentation in the arts was intended to create a visual ‘language’ for the public, which would supersede the boundaries of class, gender, and race, and although the project to ‘heal society’ did not succeed in the intended way, modern art has fundamentally changed the way we
experience the world.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a gallery guide to contextualize the artworks.

CYRK (Circus series…Lion)
1975 by Hubert Hilscher
[Polish, 1924-1999]
BMAM: Gift of Mrs. Mary Jane Sayles 1971.06