Page 35 - Studio International - November 1967
P. 35
after world war II
the old bourgeoisie rapidly disappearing
difference between manual and brainworkers
hardly visible
split between labour and capital not apparent
russia no longer considered a paradise
socialist goals nearly attained
socialism lost its attraction
capitalists may vote for labour
internationalism
now means unification into blocs
(east or west of the iron curtain)
youth without ideals regarding the future
hardly anybody interested in politics
world war II in europe
a war between nazism and democracy
confronting everybody
with sadism hunger and death
world war II for asia and africa
Asger Jorn
Le monde perdu 1960 meant the end of colonialism
oil on canvas meant freedom and nationalism
46+ x 35 in. to gain the same rights
Eindhoven Museum,
that western countries enjoy
Holland
in twenty years
amidst the beautiful scenery
of old towns and venerable architecture
around world war I europe asia and africa
a bourgeoisie comfortably installed changed completely
with several servants and of course
behind heavy curtains in a velvet interior art changed completely
dimly lit through pink lampshades
realizing slowly cubism and constructivism
`a labourer is a human being too' (van gogh) have done their work
but voting for liberalism and reaction the beauty of form and colour
is transcended in violence of expression
and a working class poorly clad
struggling to feed its children the little masterpiece
trying to forget misery through alcohol above the chest of drawers
or attending socialist meetings makes room for the large canvas
striking to obtain better salaries into which we may enter
and the 8-hour working day
a new generation of artists
internationalism meant revolution without fear and without idealism
`proletarians of all countries unite' tries to build new human relations
strong labour parties everywhere with paint and metal'
full of idealism shaping the world of 1960, 1970. . . .
looking toward russia `a painting no longer is a structure of colours and lines
where socialism won the battle but a beast a night a city a human being
or all these together
youth with hope of the future
europe vibrated
with constructive ideas (mondrian) after a period in which art represented nothing
everybody was interested in politics a new era is about to start
world war I was a war between armies in which art represents everything'2
only soldiers were involved
1 the carving in stone is too slow a process for today's sculptor
2 the painter constant in a dutch manifesto 1948
