Modernist poetry, which emerged in the first two decades of the 20th century had the main aim to eliminate rigid structures of romantic poetry. The images and objects put into words as well as the visual appearance of the poem itself were to express their true nature and to be freed from metaphors they were connected with before.
William Carlos Williams is one of the most important poets of the American modernism. He understands perfectly well to combine visual experience with words and the link from some of his poems to works of visual arts and vice versa is more than apparent. This paper focuses on the correlation between those diverse pieces of art. After a short introduction to the life of and influence on Williams in Chapter 2 Chapter 3 draws parallels between the work of Alfred Stieglitz and that of William Carlos Williams. This does not only hold for similarities in the objects and image depicted as in “Spring Showers” and “Young Sycamore”, which have been discussed in literature before. It also applies to the mere force of expression that is analogical in the photograph “Apples and Gable” and the poem “The Red Wheelbarrow”.
The constellation of a poem by Williams serving as an inspiring source for a piece of visual arts is focused on in Chapter 4. Williams’ poem “The Great Figure” is analysed and paralleled with the painting “I Saw the Figure Five in Gold” by Charles Demuth. As an example for the indirect inspirational character of Williams’ poem one work by Robert Indiana is introduced directly pointing to Demuth’s painting. Although Indiana is an important representative of American pop art, which evolved out of criticism concerning some aspects of modernist art, similarities in both concepts as well as in all three pieces of art can be identified.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Artistic influences on the early life of William Carlos Williams.
- Impressions from photography in poems
- Alfred Stieglitz.
- “Spring Showers” and “Young Sycamore”.
- \"Apples and Gable\" and \"The Red Wheelbarrow\"\
- The poem as an inspiration for the picture.
- Charles Demuth.
- “The Great Figure” and “I Saw the Figure Five in Gold”.
- Robert Indiana's “Fifth Dream”
- Concluding Remarks
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores the interconnectedness between William Carlos Williams' modernist poetry and the visual arts. It focuses on the way Williams' work draws inspiration from and contributes to artistic movements of his time, showcasing the influence of photography on his poetry and the reverse impact of his poetry on visual art.
- The influence of visual arts on Williams' poetry.
- The relationship between William Carlos Williams' work and the imagist movement.
- The connection between poetry and painting through the works of Stieglitz, Demuth and Williams.
- The evolution of modern art and its impact on Williams' poetry.
- The unique style of Williams' poetry, particularly his emphasis on directness and realism.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The introduction outlines the aims of the paper and provides a general overview of William Carlos Williams' place within American Modernism. It highlights the poet's unique ability to blend visual experiences and words, demonstrating the strong connection between his works and the visual arts.
- Chapter 2 delves into the early life and artistic influences of William Carlos Williams. It examines how his multicultural upbringing and exposure to different perspectives shaped his creative vision. The chapter particularly explores the influence of his mother, a painter, on his sensibility and fascination with visual arts.
- Chapter 3 investigates the parallels between the work of Alfred Stieglitz and William Carlos Williams, focusing on the similarities in their approach to portraying objects and images. This chapter examines specific poems and photographs, such as "Spring Showers" and "Young Sycamore," highlighting the analogous force of expression present in both mediums.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper delves into the realm of American Modernist poetry, focusing on William Carlos Williams' unique style and his relationship with visual arts. The key concepts include the impact of photography and painting on Williams' poetry, the influence of the imagist movement, the interconnectedness of different art forms, and the evolution of modern art in the early 20th century.
- Citar trabajo
- Stephanie Peiker (Autor), 2007, Art on Art on Art. Parallels in poems by William Carlos Williams and visual arts, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/86916
