Chaos and Classicism: European Art, 1918–1936, at the Guggenheim Bilbao

Antonio Donghi
Circus (Circo equestre ), 1927
Oil on canvas
150 x 100 cm
Gerolamo and Roberta Etro, Milan

Chaos and Classicism: European Art, 1918–1936, at the Guggenheim Bilbao ‘Chaos and Classicism: Art in France, Italy, Germany and Spain, 1918–1936’ clearly shows how the prewar avant-garde movements such as Cubism, Futurism and Expressionism were set aside in favor of a return to classicism, to order

February 22 – May 15, 2011

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Source: Guggenheim Bilbao
Chaos and Classicism: Art in France, Italy, Germany, and Spain, 1918–1936 is an exhibition that focuseson the vast transformation in European culture between the world wars. Sponsored by FundaciónBBVA, the exhibition will be on view at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao from February 22 throughMay 15, 2011.

Rising from the horror of the war, European artists sought a return to order and an embrace of rationalorganization and enduring values, in contrast with the prewar emphasis on innovation by all means. As aconsequence, during the interwar period, the balance and force of classical forms engendered a fusionof modernity and antiquity, turning away from the two-dimensional abstract spaces and fragmentationof Cubism, Futurism, Expressionism, and other avant-garde movements of the early 20th century.

With more than 150 works by more than 90 artists, comprising painting, sculpture, photography,architecture, film, fashion, and the decorative arts, this exhibition examines the return to order in theinterwar period in Europe. Chaos and Classicism presents works by established masters of the first halfof the 20th century, including Georges Braque, Carlo Carrà, Giorgio de Chirico, Otto Dix, PabloGargallo, Fernand Léger, Aristide Maillol, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Pablo Picasso, Gio Ponti, Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, and August Sander.

Chaos and Classicism: Art if France, Italy, Germany, and Spain, 1918–1936 is organized by New YorkUniversity Professor of Modern Art Kenneth E. Silver, a renowned authority on European art betweenthe wars, assisted by Helen Hsu, Assistant Curator, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, with VivienGreene, Curator of 19th- and Early-20th- Century Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, as curatorialadviser.