Experts still do not agree on how denominating the style in art of this epoch, as "Modernism" or "Classical Modernism". Its beginning, transition and end cannot be resumed and determined generically. In the present text, the art works dating from 1900 until 1945 are grouped as "Classical Modernism" and those dating from 1945 on as "Postmodernism". This epoque groups avant-garde art in the different styles, such as Jugendstil, Cubism, Fauvism, Surrealism, Dadaism, Expressionism, Futurism etc. Since there co-existed a lot of movements in art, we can refer to as plurality of styles. From a historical point of view the period between 1900 and 1945 was a time of change and great disquiet .The state system was destroyed by the World Wars. The analysis of a changed world engendered changes in art. Artists no longer wanted to imitate reality, but to construct "new, even abstract worlds, not to show the visible, but actually to render visible the invisible."[1] Personalities in art became stronger, the cult of the artist flourished.[2] Simultaneously to the emerging of Modernism has developped the profession of gallery owners who represented the artists, ensuring their fame and an increased value of their paintings. What was new was the spreading of art through magazines (Der Sturm, Die Aktion). In these magazines were presented works of art, styles, exhibitions and artists.[3] The further development of the psychoanalysis promoted by Sigmund Freud, among others, was very important, too. The intellectual occupied themselves with and reacted to Freud's theories. Since there was a lack of male workers due to the world wars, women had to go to work, even between the Wars, because they often had to become their family's nurturers.[4] The birth rate had fallen and around 1900 more and more states granted women the right to vote. Another achievement of women's movements was that from the end of the 19th century on women were admitted to universities.[5] An increasing number of women became artists. They continued being models and muses. The female genitalia were depicted again, even though embedded in the picture respectively to the style in stylized, abstract, symbolized or any other way. The vulva wasn't omitted any longer in erotic nudes, but naturally put in the centre of the pictures.

Please find hereafter further interesting statements:

+ Sammlung Prinzhorn (Bauboähnliche Figur, um 1900)
+ Pablo Picasso (Vaginal Environment, 1902) >>
+ Wols (Die große Fassade, 1914) >>
+ Tamara de Lempicka (Das schlafende Mädchen, 1923) >>
+ Hermann Scherer (Stehender Frauenakt, 1924) >>
+ Andre Masson (Terre erotique, 1939) >>
+ Marcel Duchamp (Étant donnés, 1946 – 1966) >>
+ Man Ray (The Bicycle, 1950) >>