From The Form Of Life To The Expression Of Spirit ——On Paula Modersohn-becker’s Paintings About Pregnancy

Paula Modersohn-Becker,from 1876 to 1907,is one of the most important artist of expressionism in her early years.Meanwhile,she is the first female artist to portrait the naked herself and paint the pregnancy.She dies in 1907 because of dystocia.This thesis will go back to the paintings of Paula Modersohn-Becker.After summarizing the works of domestic scholars and the fruits of foreign scholars,this thesis will discuss the language of art.The language of art mirrors the changing of mind that is triggered by the changing of body.This thesis will also discuss the expression of spirit and the method of expression created by Paula Modersohn-Becker.In the frame arrangement of this thesis,the first section depicts the experience of Paula Modersohn-Becker and the background of society and culture.The expression of spirit cannot be divorced from the form of paintings,colour,composition and method of drawing.While form and colour themselves can be the topic of paintings.So we cannot fully understand the topic of painting without form,colour,composition and method.The second section of this thesis will talk about the possibilities and transformations of art language,together with the influence of French impressionism,such as Paul Cezanne and Paul Gauguin.In order to make a deep research,I will make a comparision of painting methods between them.The third section will refer to the subject on pregnancy,reflecting the experience of Paula Modersohn-Becker and the sudden sharp spasm of European culture.Through analysing the style and subject of paintings by female artists Frida Kahlo,Alice Neal,Marlene Dumas,Tracy Emin and Louise Bourgeois and so on,I want to fully understand the spirit of Paula Modersohn-Becker.At last,I will make a commentary with my own pregnancy experience.