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A quick walk through an art gallery is like a tour through the world’s vast history. From Renaissance portraits of rich lords and ladies, to seemingly nonsensical piles of objects: art has certainly changed over the years. It goes without saying that the jump from traditional oil painting to contemporary installation did not happen swiftly and suddenly. This progression is spread across centuries, each artist and movement pushing art just a little bit further. Art movements are frequently initiated by, and grow from, a particular seed of stimulus. A possible source of inspiration could be a significant societal event or trend. However, art does not necessarily mirror or copy society, rather it can challenge and critique it. That is what Dada was all about. Sparked by the horrific events of World War One, the hatred Dada artists felt towards society was freely expressed in their explicit works. As well as societal influence, movements can coincide with advancements in technology, such as the invention of photography. Whatever their inspiration, each and every movement grows, peaks, declines, then serves as a launch pad for the next exciting movement.
The millennia bridging the very beginning of art to the present day have been filled to the brim with countless art movements. The significant era of Dadaism was born screaming, rising from the ashes of a War ravaged society. The disgust and disillusionment felt towards society, and the rage evoked by the horrors of the war, were reflected in Dada art. The resulting cynicism was Dada’s life source, and when it waned, Dada did too, dissolving into Surrealism in the mid-1920s. The principle artists of Dadaism included Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst and Hannah Hoch... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline