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Ashcan School for Dummies

noun


What does Ashcan School really mean?

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Hey there! So, "Ashcan School" is a term that refers to a group of American artists who were active in the early 20th century. Let me break it down for you. Imagine you're going to an art exhibit. You walk into a room filled with paintings that have a unique and somewhat gritty style. These artworks portray scenes of everyday life in a raw and realistic way. That's basically what the Ashcan School is all about.

The name "Ashcan School" might sound a bit strange, but let me explain why it was given to this group of artists. Back in the day, there were these big metal containers called "ashcans" that people used to throw away their rubbish, like household waste and ashes from fireplaces. The Ashcan School artists are called that because they saw beauty, meaning, and inspiration in the everyday things that most people would consider trash or not important. They chose to capture these scenes and depict them in their art.

So, the Ashcan School artists were a bit rebellious in a way. They didn't follow the traditional standards of what was considered "art." Instead, they focused on the real-life struggles and the less glamorous side of society. They wanted to show the world as it truly was, without any sugar-coating.

There are a few key artists associated with the Ashcan School, such as Robert Henri, George Bellows, and John Sloan, among others. Each artist had their own unique style, but they all shared that common goal of capturing the essence of everyday life.

Now, let me explain one more thing. The term "Ashcan School" can also refer to a specific period in American art history, around the early 20th century, when these artists were at their peak. So, whenever you come across this term, it could mean either the group of artists or the specific period they were active in.

To sum it all up, the Ashcan School is a group of artists who focused on portraying everyday life in a realistic and sometimes gritty way. They chose to depict scenes that others might overlook or consider unimportant. They wanted to show the beauty and meaning in these ordinary moments. So, the term "Ashcan School" can refer to both the group of artists and the specific period in art history when they were active.

Revised and Fact checked by Megan Brown on 2023-10-28 03:16:05

Ashcan School In a sentece

Learn how to use Ashcan School inside a sentece

  • The Ashcan School was a group of American artists in the early 20th century who painted everyday scenes of city life, like crowded streets or people waiting for a train.
  • One of the famous paintings by the Ashcan School is called 'The Wrestlers', which shows two men grappling and fighting in a dirty, run-down gym.
  • The Ashcan School artists believed that art should reflect the reality of life, so they painted ordinary people and places instead of glamorous or idealized subjects.
  • In 'Breakfast in Greeley Square', an Ashcan School painting, we can see people eating their breakfast on a park bench in New York City.
  • The Ashcan School helped change people's perceptions of what could be considered 'art' by focusing on the ordinary and everyday aspects of life.

Ashcan School Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Ashcan School Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.