Modern Art Invasion: Picasso, Duchamp, And The 1913 Armory Show That Scandalized America

by Elizabeth Lunday

The story of the most important art show in U.S. history. Held at Manhattan’s 69th Regiment Armory in 1913, the show brought modernism to America in an unprecedented display of 1300 works by artists including Picasso, Matisse, and Duchamp, A quarter of a million Americans visited the show; most couldn’t make sense of what they were seeing. Newspaper critics questioned the artists’ sanity. A popular rumor held that the real creator of one abstract canvas was a donkey with its tail dipped in paint.

The Armory Show went on to Boston and Chicago and its effects spread across the country. American artists embraced a new spirit of experimentation as conservative art institutions lost all influence. New modern art galleries opened to serve collectors interested in buying the most progressive works. Over time, the stage was set for American revolutionaries such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol. Today, when museums of modern and contemporary art dot the nation and New York reigns as art capital of the universe, we live in a world created by the Armory Show.

Elizabeth Lunday, author of the breakout hit Secret Lives of Great Artists , tells the story of the exhibition from the perspectives of organizers, contributors, viewers, and critics. Brimming with fascinating and surprising details, the book takes a fast-paced tour of life in America and Europe, peering into Gertrude Stein’s famous Paris salon, sitting in at the fabulous parties of New York socialites, and elbowing through the crowds at the Armory itself.

Genres: Art, History, Nonfiction, New York, Museums, Art History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

I love telling stories about the arts, because art, literature, music and architecture can lift us out of our workaday muddling of laundry and dirty dishes and overflowing recycling bins and fill us with wonder, sorrow, amazement, and joy. Even more remarkable to my mind is that the people who create the experiences aren’t some sort of higher form of the species–artists aren’t separate from the rest of us. They are us, human, with all the foibles and follies that implies. (And oh how much fun those foibles are to recount!)

What makes artists different is their belief in possibilities. A painter believes he or she can take a blank canvas and some oily pigments and invent a new vision. Writers believe they can put one word in front of the other and create a whole new world. Composers believe they can arrange sounds according to some sort of plan and transport your soul. To believe these things takes supreme self-confidence and an act of powerful will. If nothing else inspires you about art, let that inspire you: the belief that anything is possible.

Reviews

[Paige McLoughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

History of the 1913 Armoury shows the open salvo in North America of the movement from impressionism and post-impressionism and all the other isms of modern art were kicked off in the US in which the exhibition which had to overcome the establishment. It also became the enthronement of the Avante Garde the idea of new and breaking of tradition became the default in the art world. Move fast and break stuff. It is the ruling paradigm that leads to the question and paradox of who is going to break this paradigm and smash our particular orthodoxy of the Avante Garde.

[Amy Neftzger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book for fans of modern art as well as individuals who work in the arts. While other types of artists may not be as interested in some of the political specifics of fine art, these types of "in-group" and 'out group" divisions exist in nearly all industries. Very innovative individuals are often kept on the fringes while the current state of affairs attempts to maintain itself in a position of power. What's interesting about this book is how some of these outsiders put together a show that caused an upheaval in the art world. At the same time, the most inspiring aspect of the book is that now that we're 100 years from the incident that set things in motion, we see how much of an impact the show made on the industry. The book shows that it's possible to make a significant difference.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Modern Art Invasion, by Elizabeth Lunday, tells how Modern Art came to America in 1913. Elizabeth Lunday's book is highly readable. All you need is the interest and curiosity to learn more about this art style that impacted the 20th century. It includes the back story of how artwork from Europe and America were selected to be part of the International Exhibition of Modern Art or as it became known The Amory Show because it was held in the 69th Regiment National Guard Amory on the east side of Manhatten. I had heard of the show but knew very little about it. I didn't know the show traveled to Chicago where it was criticized by the influential people at the Art Institute where it was on display. All the commotion attracted huge crowds. Then it went on to Boston where it basically was ignored but New Yorkers embraced the show and came in droves to see it, which eventually shifted NY to being the epicenter of art from Europe. There are so many interesting stories in this book. A must read for those interested in learning more about the Modern Art Movement and by those who say, "What's that?! a pre-schooler could make it."

[Ddoddmccue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern Art invasion makes a passionate and successful argument for the huge, though often belated, impact of the 1913 Armory Show on the art world. It appears the compliment of the 2013 anniversary exhibit at the NY Historical Society.

The underlying impetus- and the trio who made its reality- is well described. ( Each of the three could merit a separate book.) So, too, is the public and critical response, which varied geographically, and the contrasting reactions of American artists.
While coverage is adequate, less detail is provided the wide range of disruptions prompted by World Wars. Post war finds a familiar account of the Guggenheim/Pollack crowd, with less said about the years since.


Overall the account of initial birth, execution, and response to the Armory Show is the strongest, most compelling section. For elaboration of the post-show history here and abroad, see High Eakin’s Picasso’s War,a hefty doorstop of a book that details MOMA’s birth, extreme disruptions of WW2, and the heroic efforts to guide European artists - and even Peggy Guggenheim- to safety in the US. For elaboration of the belated positive impact of the show, Mary Gabriel’s Ninth Street Women greatly expands the story beyond Pollock.

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so interesting. As someone who loves art but has no formal education in it whatsoever, I enjoyed learning about the various movements discussed in the book, the influence of Europe and the striving to identify what art is identifiably or quintessentially "American." I love thinking of a time when an art show could essentially be a meme. I think so many of the kneejerk reactions from 1913 are still so present among people today who are uncomfortable around art that might present a little bit of a challenge.

What FASCINATES me is that so much of what was actually at the Armory Show has been lost to history???? There was an embroiderer whose work was displayed and we just don't know what avant garde 1913 embroidery looked like??? It's tragic.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very adept history of the Armory Show: well-written, incredibly well-sourced, and quite entertaining. The history of an art show shouldn't be all that intriguing to anyone outside of the art world, but Lunday does a phenomenal job of crafting characters out of the people involved, creating dramatic tension, and imparting the legacy of the show itself. In a history that could read as poorly as a dry textbook, I was constantly engaged.

It comes highly recommended for anyone interested in art at any level or discipline, lovers of history, or just individuals looking for an intriguing and overlooked part of our cultural history.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb and accessible account of the 1913 Armory Show, the first major exhibition of modernism in the United States - a must-know-about for anyone interested in modern art. Lunday presents all kinds of great anecdotes about the show, its planning, and aftermath. Her analysis of the way the spirit of the Armory reverberated across art for decades after are particularly interesting. Deep enough to give art history buffs lots of chew on, but not too dense as to be a slog.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes art modern? How can we unsee what we’ve experienced in the century since the Armory show that could replicate the visual impact that this show had on how Americans saw art? This engaging book helps us understand this pivotal moment when New York, not Paris, became the center of the art universe. It is rare that such a well researched and detailed account is also such an enjoyable read.

[Tad Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, breezy, insightful...what more could you ask?

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy art, especially art history, you'll like this.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important subject but a bit drawn out with extraneous details.

[Chris Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay really.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art fight! Interesting book about the little known to me “Armory” art exhibit in 1913.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review at Reading World

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning about the historical context of the Armory Show from its original inception. This was a formative turning point in American art, in which the works of European modern artists were formally exhibited with the intention of exposing American artists to innovative ideas and concepts. This is written more as a narrative than a collection of chapters organized by subjects, which I found particularly effective. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in art, as well as early 20th century American history.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well-researched, lively book makes up for the modern art history class I wish I had taken.

[Boliang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A non-fiction on a historic art exhibition. As a story of the 20th-century New York, this book is even more appealing than a fiction like E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for anyone who is interested in the history of Modern Art.