Brutal Aesthetics

Postwar artists and writers grappled with the cultural void left by World War II and its aftermath, seeking a "brutal aesthetics" that reflects their harsh realities. Hal Foster delves into the concept of "positive barbarism," where modernist art serves as a means of survival amid devastation. He highlights influential figures like Georges Bataille, Jean Dubuffet, Asger Jorn, Eduardo Paolozzi, and Claes Oldenburg, exploring their efforts to simplify and expose art's essence as a way to rebuild in a broken world.