Formalism has been around in essence since the very beginning of time. It can be philosophized that the universe itself is the original and ultimate Formalist, the creator and appreciator of all shapes, all colors, and all forms.
As an extension of the universe, human beings seem to also share this inherent obsession with order and forms. Traces of this can be found all throughout history in aspects of society such as architecture, music, and art.
In other words, Formalism is the examination of three-dimensional material forms and the analysis of their visual composition. This includes both their internal and external components and also their relationship with other objects. Formalism in art stands for the appreciation of aesthetics and the purely physical, above all else.
What is Formalism?
Formalism definition in art is an aesthetic that emphasizes visual characteristics as opposed to external context or content. It encompasses a wide range of movements throughout history. The goal behind these various expressions is to focus on the beauty of shapes and colors between the lines that might be revealed through traditional symbolism or storytelling, allowing viewers to interpret works according to personal preference and understanding.
The history of Formalism is a convoluted and heavily contested one. Many art historians argue that its origins can be traced back to magnificent Ancient Greece and its hierarchy of form theory, while others say that Formalism is a purely modern invention whose roots only truly formed during the modern art movements of the 19th century.
Like all good arguments, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. It is true that the Ancient Greeks valued form as one of the most important and most 'real' components of this world. However, they were also too deeply invested in their abstract ideals and philosophies to be called true Formalists.
Appreciation of form has always been something of deep interest to the artistically minded throughout history. However, in the ancient world, the form was always connected to either spiritual or cultural meaning. So, the argument that Formalism wasn't officially established until much later is probably the correct conclusion.
It is abundantly clear that Renaissance artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci and others were profoundly interested in form. However, as religion was so culturally dominant at the time, practically every artist had to incorporate religious motifs into their artwork in one aspect or another.
It may be true that artists such as Da Vinci wished to pursue Formalism; he just didn't have the cultural parameters around him to allow it. This freedom wouldn't be granted to artists until the explosion of the modern art movement of the 1800s. It was only then that artists became free to pursue avenues such as Formalism to the fullest.
The Definition of Formalism in Art
As mentioned above briefly, Formalism has always been a part of art to one degree or another. You only have to look at the architectural ruins of Ancient Egypt, Greece, India, and many other places to see this deep appreciation of the beauty of form.
In many ways, these ancient cultures were much more invested in form aesthetics than our culture today. The main difference between the Formalism of old and true Formalism as it is defined today is that in the past, the form was almost always tied to something else, like religious temples or mythology paintings, for example.
Yes, the roots of Formalism may be very old indeed; however, true Formalism meaning pure form in the absence of meaning, is a relatively new concept in the world of art. Nevertheless, many modern art movements, such as Post-Impressionism, Cubism, Abstract-Expressionism, and Art Nouveau, all hold Formalism as one of their core components and the basis of their expression.
In many ways, both Modern art and Formalism can be defined as a move away from archaic cultural and religious models in an attempt to create truly original art never before seen and without any cultural context. In theory, Formalism aims to evolve beyond the cultural constraints of the past and operate from a place of pure creativity.
The Theory of Formalism in Art
Modern Formalism theory and the establishment of the Formalism definition have been predominantly credited to the works of German philosopher and writer Immanuel Kant. Many artists and painters around Kant's time were beginning to work with the fundamentals of Formalism. However, it was the German philosopher who so beautifully defined its meaning in words.
It was Kant who eloquently characterized the difference between forms (Gestalt) and sensations (Spiel). As Kant was a purist at heart, his perspective was based solely on reason and logic. Nevertheless, Kant approached matters with emotion or morality and, as a result, can be seen as the first pure Formalist.
In the centuries after the German philosopher established the basis of Formalism, the theory was greatly expanded upon and crafted into what it is today. Modern Formalism follows the motto of art for art's own sake. In other words, Formalism and the expression of its formal elements in art operate without any emotion or bias.
In principle, the goal of Formalism and the Formalist artist is to get to the heart of the matter. This essentially means that the meaning of a Formalist work of art is simply the work of art itself. There is no deeper inherent meaning or emotion contained within it; consequently, it stands as a pure form.
This lack of any meaning or context has resulted in modern art receiving much scrutiny when compared with the great masterpieces from history. What many people fail to realize, though, is that modern art isn't trying to be like anything from the past. Instead, the Formalist wants to create a unique and never before seen image every time.
Artists and Their Works that Embrace Formalism
Within the broad scope of art history, the Formalism movement ultimately proved to be as influential as any other artistic movement. As a result, there have been many famous artists and wonderfully iconic images to come out of this expression of pure form. To gain a greater understanding, let's take a look at some of the most well-known Formalism paintings.
Henri Matisse – Blue Nude IV
Whether he was fully conscious of it or not, Henri Matisse's artworks are one of the greatest examples of Formalism in all of the art. His use of bold color and visual design cues as the focus for his paintings perfectly embodies everything that Formalism stands for.
The color schemes and visual aesthetics are the meaning of Matisse's paintings. However, the majority of Matisse's paintings are simply a representation of the object being painted in relationship with his artistic instincts at work. Matisse was a master of form and color, and his works often convey a sense of harmony and balance. His works are considered to be some of the most important and influential in the history of art.
Piet Mondrian-Composition A
The Formalism definition is exemplified by the minimalistic geometric paintings of Piet Mondrian.
The shapes depicted within his paintings lack any meaning, yet the geometric form of their lines and color form a visual aesthetic never before seen in art.
Mondrian's sectional paintings of minimal color are one of the first to come to mind when it comes to an image of Formalism art. Alongside Wassily Kandinsky's paintings, they are also some of the most influential works of art in shaping the identity of Formalism throughout the 20th century.
Wassily Kandinsky- Yellow Red Blue
Wassily Kandinsky's artwork is often categorized as formalism, a style of art that emphasizes the structure and form of a work. He used geometric shapes and lines to create compositions that explored the relationships between color, shape, and movement. Kandinsky was an advocate of non-objective art, meaning that his works do not represent anything from the physical world. Instead, he sought to express inner emotions and spiritual states of being through his artwork.
His pieces often have a dreamlike quality that draws in the viewer and encourages them to explore their own inner emotions. Kandinsky's formalism art has been highly influential in the development of abstract art and continues to inspire artists today.
Formalism Definition in Other Arts
The Formalism definition is not just limited to the world of popular paintings. It also shows up in many other mediums of artistic expression, such as literature, movies, dance, music, and architecture. In each regard, the purest form is often considered the most powerful and poignant.
In literature, Formalism aims to criticize and dispel many of the longstanding predeterminations and writing tropes present within the art form, such as grammar and syntax, to name just two. The modern Formalist writer's goal is to convey the message as literally, factually, and straightforwardly as possible. It can sometimes be seen as similar to ancient Stoic or Buddhist writings in this regard, minus the poetry.
Formalism in the theory of music is highly interesting. It is arguably the most interesting branch of art, with the elements of Formalism applied to it. But unfortunately, it is also the most complex and difficult to comprehend. In basic terms, musical Formalism is the idea that music is something that is understood by the intellect of the mind. By this reasoning, the meaning of the music is found in its composition, not in the emotions it invokes.
The aesthetic theory of Formalism found in architecture paintings is one of the most pragmatic and easy to appreciate. Other than the avenue of painting, art for art's own sake arguably applies best to the realm of architecture, believe it or not. This is primarily because of the spatial aspects entailed in architecture. In other words, any room should be defined by the form of its functionality and not by its looks.
These are just a few examples of Formalism at work in other artistic avenues. Its principles can also be found in practically every avenue of modern culture in one sense or another. Even a person could live by the principles of Formalism if they wanted to.
Overview of Formalism in Modern Art
The influence of Formalism on the overview of modern art cannot be understated. In a relatively short period, the ideas of Formalism have grown from a relatively unknown concept to essentially ruling over the world of mainstream art.
By taking and applying this almost scientific approach to the creation of art, artists from the last century succeeded in creating some of the most original and iconic works of art of all time. You can find famous artists names that completely changed what art is in this day and age. For example, remarkable artists Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollack.
The influence of Formalism and its formal elements can now be found almost everywhere. Whether it is fully realized or not, much of the art produced today, whether it be painting, sculpture, music, movies, or even science, is foundationally rooted in Formalism. In a sense, the cold modern world of science and the existential crisis for meaning is due in part to the cultivation of Formalism.
For better or worse, the rise of Formalism is another example of just how powerful art is when it comes to inspiring changes in both the outer of society and the inner world of our minds.
Conclusion
Formalism's radical approach of valuing form over meaning has drastically changed and shaped the 20th and 21st centuries more than any other artistic movement in history. Its philosophies and principles can now be found in practically every aspect of modern life and have molded both the world of art and the world itself into something never seen before in history.
