Great Depression's Artworks :

John kane is an american painter during

the 1930s. He was born in august 19, 1860
in West Calder and died on august 10, 1934 in
Pittsburgh. His background was hard for him
when we know that he was the only capable to
make money after his ftaher dead. In 1897, he
married Maggie Halloran and work as a painter
of wagons in the "Pressed Steel Car
Compagny". But the plant where worked Kane
fired him and as a homelessness, he does a
door to door for win his life. In 1927 one of his
painting was inclueded in the famous art fair of
Carnegie.

Art Form :Oil on canvas

«Homestead» John Kane, 1929

Movement :NaÏve art

This painting is colorful and was

made by John Kane in 1929. In the
foreground, we are observing a
bridge above water and some houses
on the right bottom. In the middle of
the painting, we are seeing many
plants and houses on the right. And
also a long train in the left middle
which is releasing smoke. Finally in
the background, we are observing
the sky which is hiding by the smoke of the plants and train. This painting is
representing the territory industrialization. The colors are in contradiction
because on the left side, we are noticing vegetation but in the right side only
inventions of men. And this trend of industrialization is coming every where
even rural area like this bridge which is connecting two contradictions, two
different worlds. The sky also is in a contradiction because the dark smoke of
plants is entering in conflict with the blue of the sky.
As you can see this painting was created in 1929. At this time an economic
crisis affected the world and more precisely the United States. The
unemployement increased dangerously and many were forced to live in
slums, which was called Hooverville in reference to the current president at
this time. It was the start of a period that people called "The Great
Depression".This painting tell us about the industrialization of the 1930s.
Indeed every green space is used to elarge the industry. Large farms with
large green spaces are just old memories.

Comparison with other Artworks of 1930s :

Edward hopper is an american painter who

was born on july 22, 1882 in Nyack and died
on may 15, 1967 in his workshop in New
York. In 1900 He decided to go to the
prestigious New York School of Art before
traveling in Europe and ended up having his
workshop in New York in 1908. In 1924, he
changed his way of painting for something
more real, something comparable to current
life in the United State during the 1930s. He
received several honorary titles during his life
which gave him the nickname of "Doctor of
fine arts".
«New York Movie» Edward Hopper, 1939
This painting is colorful and was made
by Edward Hopper in 1939. In the
foreground on the left, we are seeing
several cinema chairs. In the middle on
the left, we are seeing some people who
are watching a movie and someone else
on the right middle is remaining
standing under a lamppost next to a
staircase. And finally in the background
left, we are observing the screen of the
cinema as well the lamps on the ceiling.
Without forgetting the big red curtain on
the top right. This painting is
representing a movie room from the 1930s. Also in this painting we are
discerning a contradiction of colors between the left side and right side .
Indeed the left side of this painting is more darker than the right which is
lighter. This painting is showing us a radical change in the 1930s.

Art Form : Oil on canvas

Movement : Social Realism

I chose John Kane's artwork because it represented the situation in

the 1930s. Change, a sometimes terrifying word, perfectly
describes this period called "Great Depression". And John Kane
shows it through the contradictions we see in this painting that is
also found in the artwork of Edward Hopper. Indeed the green
spaces are in contradiction with the strong industrialization of this
period. It’s why i like it, because we see immediately the change,
the problem.