Running head: OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 1

Oskar Kokoschka`s Artwork Vs Andy Goldsworthy`s

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OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 2

Introduction

Oskar Kokoschka recognized for his portraits and landscapes. Kokoschka is as well

known for his visionary theories that influenced the Viennese Expressionist movement. He was a

teacher, poet, artist, and a playwright who originated from Australia. Kokoschka used strong

color in his artwork with an intention of capturing the attention of the viewers. The stylistic

constraint he used in his artwork was used by different artists in different period. There are

different dimensions of his artwork that can be compared to the ones used by Andy Goldsworthy.

The stylistic variations used by both Kokoschka and Goldsworthy can be compared in different

dimensions.

Societal Implication of the Artwork

Both Kokoschka and Goldsworthy focused more on things that were happening within

the society. In one of the artwork of Kokoschka (The Dreaming Youths), he focused more on the

sexual awakening of a young man. Goldsworthy, on the other hand, focusses more on the

advancements of the society. Goldsworthy reminds the viewers of the importance of the magical

nature. In his artwork, he reinforces on the significance of the viewers of gaining more

knowledge about the realities of life1. He emphasizes on his objectives through using natural

materials and proceeds to creating them in their natural setting. His artwork is capable of

capturing how the nature is impacted by time, unlike Kokoschka`s artwork that cannot capture

the effects of time in nature.

1
Junod, Philippe. Counterpoints: Dialogues between Music and the Visual Arts.
OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 3

https://www.theartstory.org/artist/kokoschka-oskar/artworks/

Figure 1: Oscar Kokoschka, The Dreaming Youths, 1907-08

Kokoschka elaborates different autobiographical concepts in his artwork. Different

elements of symbolist poetry have been included in his artwork together with the traditional

types of the German folk-poems. Majority of Kokoschka`s images have not corresponded to the

text on the page that describe how the society lives as well as the different traditions of the

people2. Goldsworthy`s artwork, on the other hand, corresponds to different assumptions within

the society. His work mostly describes how humans have developed a culture that is more

centred on different assumptions.

Elements of Symbolist Poetry

In the poem “The Dreaming Youths”, Oskar Kokoschka includes different elements of

symbolist poetry. The symbolist poetry elements used by the artist are of the late-19th century.

The elements of symbolist poetry used by Kokoschka gives a different meaning that has a better

meaning and more significant. The symbols used by the artist shift regularly based on the context

he has used them in. There are no elements of symbolist poetry used by Goldsworthy on the

other hand. The objects he used in his artwork have a direct meaning, and they can be understood

based on where, when, and how he used them. Their artworks help in identifying different

symbolism that can be used in the artwork.

In Oskar Kokoschka`s elements of symbolist poetry, he focuses on the rejection of the

two-dimensionality of Jugendstil. That was something that stirred on the surface of the youths

that were being described in his artwork. In his Gothic art, Kokoschka dominated space, and in

fact, he even created it3. Although Goldsworthy, on the other hand, did not use any elements of

2
Pallasmaa, Juhani. "Matter, Hapticity and Time Material Imagination and the Voice of Matter."
3
Lynch, David, and Kristine McKenna. Room to Dream: A Life.
OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 4

symbolist poetry in his artwork, he as well struggled on how to use the two-dimensional nature

as well the all the natural materials that were available. He illustrated different aspects of the

natural world using different colors.

Traditional Forms of Portrait

In the “Self-Portrait as Warrior” by Kokoschka, he used decorative arts and confirmed his

anticipation of using an expressionistic art. His artwork subverts the traditional form of the

portrait through the representation of his suffering features. It seems like the artist proceeded to

pulling back his skin with the aim of revealing the raw flesh as well as nerves4. The think

modeled clay that the artist used in the artwork together with the portrait paintings have been

used to describe the traditions of that particular period when the artwork was being developed. In

Goldsworthy`s artwork, on the other hand, challenges the idea of what the traditional forms of

the portrait are. His artwork describes silently in the meaning of what is being manifested in all

his artworks.

The Comfortable Existence of People

The aim of the "self-portrait as a warrior" by Kokoschka was shaking the comfortable

existence of the people. The artwork described the use of houses in a way that brings the comfort

of the people. His artwork was revolutionary, describing different houses used by people as

conservative. He ensured that his painting and sculpture has the ability to bring comfort to the

people. Goldsworthy`s artwork, on the other hand, did not bring comfort to the people instead, he

used his artwork to express the potent existence of nature. That was described in the majority of

the permanent works he developed. He used his artwork to show how nature is a strong and

powerful and that was an issue that could never be controlled.

Depicting their Subjects

4
Pallasmaa, Juhani. "Matter, Hapticity and Time Material Imagination and the Voice of Matter."
OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 5

Kokoschka depicts his subjects as closed personalities that are filled with tension. Both

Hans Tietze and Erica Tietze-Conrat supports Kokoschka`s contemporary art. That is depicted

through how he understands they psyches. Kokoschka used a trance-like state that was separating

the subjects from one another and from its viewers too. The odds colors used in depicting the

subjects prevail a sense of uncertainty5. Goldsworthy, on the other hand, depicts his subjects

through his ability of constructing line, color, and shape that is used in grabbing the attention of

the viewers. Depicting is subjects is one of the most prevalent themes created by Goldsworthy.

Indeterminate Spaces

In most of Kokoschka`s artwork, he sets the sitters in an indeterminate space. He

proceeds with filling the majority of the backgrounds with layers of different colors while at the

same time scratching different lines of the artwork that emanate from the figures he uses. He

proves that the majority of his interest is based on the psychological states and the energy that is

being discharged by the artwork. The spaces used by Goldsworthy, on the other hand, is used in

showing the spatial and temporal connections. In contrast to Kokoschka`s artwork, the spaces in

Goldsworthy`s artwork describes the time set up in the artwork.

The indeterminate space used in Kokoschka`s artwork presents a sense of familiarity and

intimacy with the humankind. It provides the humankind with an opportunity of feeling alienated

in a way that they had never known themselves before. One can point out to a particular

Kokoschka`s artwork that presents feelings of alienation to the modern society and that

alienation has been made visible in Kokoschka`s artwork. The indeterminate space used in

Goldsworthy`s artwork, on the other hand, presents concepts of time to the viewers and how

different perceptions of the people towards home and locality have been affected by the

environment.
5
Junod, Philippe. Counterpoints: Dialogues between Music and the Visual Arts.
OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 6

Absorption of their own Thoughts

Kokoschka showed absorption of his own thoughts in his artwork, especially in "Der

Rentmeister". The artwork was looking down while gazing at both the artist and the viewer. He

has asked the sitters to be relaxed as much as possible while ignoring his presence. That way, he

portrayed the absorption of his own thoughts in the artwork while presenting the psychological

depth of the artwork. Goldsworthy, on the other hand, showed absorption of his own thoughts

through getting people to notice the nature again. He presented his thoughts on how people have

managed to interact with the environment all through.

While Kokoschka presented his own thoughts of how the subjects had been isolated, he

as well admitted that it is impossible from him to paint everybody. He confirmed that it was only

a few people that were on the facet of his own being. Goldsworthy, on the other hand, presented

his own thoughts through the use of natural objects, unlike Kokoschka who used paintings6. He

developed different sculptures that he used in grabbing the attention of all his viewers. He

absorbed his own thoughts through the emotional responses he provided, as stated in most of his

artwork.

Nature of Paintings

Kokoschka emphasized more on the areas of heavy impasto that included a thin layer of

translucent paint. That was one of the most important features of his painting that was in line

with other paintings that were done during the same period. One can clearly notice think painted

areas within the eyes of most of his artwork7. It can clearly be concluded that the unique

application of paintings speaks to the transparency and opacity of the soul of the majority of the

6
Niergarth, Kirk. "Lucy Jarvis: Even Stones Have Life."
7
Hannerz, Ulf. "Writing Otherwise." The Anthropologist as Writer: Genres and Contexts in the Twenty-First Century
OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 7

sitters. Goldsworthy, on the other hand, uses paintings to clearly illustrate to the viewers about

the changes in the nature of the environment.

In the “The Tempest” Kokoschka uses painting to illustrate the capability of a storm on

deep blue background. He uses paintings to suggest different fantasies of the landscape and the

moon. The paintings used in the artwork presents different imaginations of the artist, which

holed him in a tense embrace. The paintings used by Goldsworthy represents temporary changes

that took place in nature. The paintings still depict how everything is created and how it gets

destroyed within a cycle. The paintings describe the normal environment adding different

patterns that may never take place naturally.

Depicting Norms of Society

Kokoschka was upending to the norms of Viennese bourgeois society in his artwork,

“The Tempest.” He described how Alma Mahler, a woman of 30 accustomed, used to be

surrounded by different men. He used the artwork to describe how relationships used to be filled

with jealousy and how divorce used to take place within the society8. Goldsworthy, on the other

hand, described how the assumptions made about the society could be used as some of the

greatest downfalls of any society. He used his artwork to describe how Western society has

managed to come up with a culture that is more centered on human assumptions.

8
Berry, Mark. Arnold Schoenberg. Reaktion Books, 2019.
OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 8

http://www.artnet.com/artists/andy-goldsworthy/?type=photographs

Figure 1: Andy Goldsworthy, Beech Leaves, 1993

Kokoschka indicated that there are different temperaments that can be used when

handling all the figures. He used his artwork to describe men within the society with quick

strokes. He depicted Alma in his artwork, The Tempest, in a way that can be termed to more

classical with her body nearly shimmering9. Goldsworthy, on the other hand, used the artwork to

show the society how it is expected to realize the immense impact of the artwork in our lives. He

used the artwork to describe how different parts of the nature within which people live in is

reborn and blossom again.

Backgrounds of the Artworks

Kokoschka used landscape as the background of his artwork. In the case of “The Crab”,

he painted the cliffs and water that were being characterized by a bright color. By the time he

was getting done with this artwork, his landscape paintings had already been transformed to a

political allegory. Goldsworthy, on the other hand, used the environment as the background of

his artwork10. The use of the environment as the background of the artwork describes the ever-

changing quality of life.

9
McManus, Karla Kit. "Landscape into Eco Art: Articulations of Nature Since the’60s."
10
Max, D. (2017). Foreword to Oskar Kokoschka: Variations on a Theme (1921).
OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 9

https://www.theartstory.org/artist/kokoschka-oskar/artworks/

Figure 2: Oscar Kokoschka, The Crab, 1028

Kokoschka described the landscape that the crab used to dominate with a small figure

swims to shore. He used the landscape to describe how the body of the swimmer used to

desperately approach the shore. Kokoschka was much sensitive on how his artwork was being

received in different countries, especially in Europe11. The environmental background used by

Goldsworthy, on the other hand, helps in showing the viewers that we are in the world for a short

period of time. The background of the artwork he chose helps in reminding the viewers that they

need to enjoy the beauty of their lives and the environment they live in.

Scenes in the Artwork

In “The Prometheus Triptych”, Kokoschka included biblical scenes of the Apocalypse.

The artwork described men riding their horses towards a deep storm that figured writhe beneath

them. The panels used within the artwork described the punishment of Prometheus. He used the

biblical scenes in the artwork to send a warning to the modern society12. The warning described

how the sense of humanity may be lost through a combination of science and technology.

Goldsworthy, on the other hand, used the oceanic scenes of California to make connections with

the different nature of environments that people lived in.

The use of the biblical scenes in triptych made Kokoschka feel that it was the most

significant painting he had ever developed. The scenes used in his artwork made him connect his
11
Freedman, Ariela. "Charlotte Salomon, Degenerate Art, and Modernism as Resistance."
12
Pallasmaa, Juhani. "Matter, Hapticity and Time Material Imagination and the Voice of Matter."
OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 10

subject together with his style he was using in his artwork. That made him connect with the

tradition of Western European painting. The immensely beautiful scenes that Goldsworthy used

in his artwork snatched the attention of the viewers. The viewers could connect the sculpture

with nature because of the natural materials used in the artwork.

Conclusion

In conclusion, whenever one thinks of art, one can never fail to think of Oskar

Kokoschka and Andy Goldsworthy. Comparing their art can help in identifying the significance

of their artwork in history. Their artwork has been part of our lives in different perspectives, as

described in the paper. They both have described how art is not meant to be looked at only what

it is. They describe how art is meant to draw the emotions of the viewers and how they can use

the artwork in pulling their personal experiences whenever they view it. Their artwork is

powerful and helps the viewers develop innovative thinking skills.

OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 11

Bibliography

Berry, Mark. Arnold Schoenberg. Reaktion Books, 2019.

Freedman, Ariela. "Charlotte Salomon, Degenerate Art, and Modernism as Resistance." Journal

of Modern Literature 41, no. 1 (2017): 3-18.

Hannerz, Ulf. "Writing Otherwise." The Anthropologist as Writer: Genres and Contexts in the

Twenty-First Century (2016): 254.

Junod, Philippe. Counterpoints: Dialogues between Music and the Visual Arts. Reaktion Books,

2017.

Kiernan, Anna. "‘Mad Girl’s Love Song’: Reflections on routes into reading, writing and

mentoring." Book 2.0 6, no. 1-2 (2016): 47-57.

Lynch, David, and Kristine McKenna. Room to Dream: A Life. Canongate Books, 2018.

Max, D. (2017). Foreword to Oskar Kokoschka: Variations on a Theme (1921). In The

Expressionist Turn in Art History (pp. 231-234). Routledge.

McManus, Karla Kit. "Landscape into Eco Art: Articulations of Nature Since the’60s." (2019):

208-210.

Niergarth, Kirk. "Lucy Jarvis: Even Stones Have Life." (2016): 92-94.

Pallasmaa, Juhani. "Matter, Hapticity and Time Material Imagination and the Voice of Matter."

Building Material 20 (2016): 171-189.

Zaidel, D. W. "Braque and Kokoschka: Brain Tissue Injury and Preservation of Artistic Skill."

Behavioral Sciences 7, no. 3 (2017): 56.

OSKAR KOKOSCHKA`S ARTWORK VS ANDY GOLDSWORTHY`S 12