Sport and Modernism in the Visual Arts in Europe, c. 1909-39

This book explores how sport inspired modernist artists, particularly at the turn of the twentieth century. It highlights how sport was seen as a way to remake society on dynamic, active, and rational lines, and how artists incorporated sport themes into their work in a wide variety of media. It also notes that sport was political, particularly under fascist and Soviet regimes, and how modernist works engaged with various ideologies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 06 March 2018
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Sport has played a significant role as a source of inspiration for a diverse range of modernist artists across the globe. Its emergence coincided with the industrial revolution and gradually became a prominent aspect of modernity as it spread throughout Europe at the turn of the twentieth century. Modernists embraced sport for its captivating spectacle and the potential it held to reshape society along dynamic, active, and rational lines. Artists incorporated sport themes into various forms of media and often incorporated references to it in their own writings. Sport also held political significance, particularly during fascist and Soviet regimes, but also in democratic countries. The works created by modernists engaged with a range of ideologies, reflecting the complex and multifaceted nature of the artistic movement.

This book offers fresh interpretations of various avant-garde movements, including Italian futurism, cubism, German expressionism, Le Corbusier's architectural designs, Soviet constructivism, Italian rationalism, and the Bauhaus. By delving into these movements, the book provides a deeper understanding of the ways in which modernist artists approached sport as a subject matter and the broader cultural and social contexts in which they worked.

Through its exploration of sport's role in modernist art, this book offers valuable insights into the relationship between art, culture, and society during the early twentieth century. It sheds light on the ways in which artists used sport as a means to challenge traditional norms, question authority
power structures, and explore new ways of representing the human experience. By examining the works of modernist artists alongside historical and political contexts, the book provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on the significance of sport in shaping the modern world.

Weight: 674g
Dimension: 175 x 247 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784992507