Question

The German art critic who used the term Magischer Realismus was:

• A. Walter Benjamin
• B. Hans Robert Jauss
• C. Franz Roh
• D. Bertolt Brecht

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Franz Roh

Franz Roh and the Genesis of 'Magischer Realismus'

• Franz Roh (1890-1965) was a prominent German art critic, photographer, and art historian.
• He is credited with coining the term "Magischer Realismus" (Magic Realism) in 1925.
• Roh introduced this term in his influential essay and book titled "Nach-Expressionismus. Magischer Realismus: Probleme der neuesten europäischen Malerei" (After Expressionism. Magic Realism: Problems of the Newest European Painting).

• Context in Art History:

  • Roh used the term to describe a new direction in European painting that emerged after Expressionism.
  • It was a move away from the emotional intensity, distortion, and subjective abstraction of Expressionism, and towards a more objective, precise, and cool depiction of reality.
  • This artistic trend was closely associated with the German art movement known as Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity), which emphasized a return to realistic representation.
  • For Roh, "Magic Realism" in art meant rendering ordinary subjects with such objective clarity and precision that they acquire a mysterious or magical aura, revealing the uncanny within the everyday. It was about seeing the wonder in the mundane through meticulous detail.

• Distinction from Surrealism:

  • It is crucial to note that Roh's "Magischer Realismus" was distinct from and often seen as an alternative to Surrealism, which emerged around the same time.
  • While Surrealism explored the dream world, the unconscious, and irrational juxtapositions, Roh's concept focused on enhancing the reality of the visible world to reveal its inherent strangeness without resorting to dream logic or fantasy.

• Transition to Literary Criticism:

  • Although originally conceived as an art criticism term, "Magic Realism" was later adopted and popularized to describe a literary genre, especially by literary critics and authors, predominantly in Latin American literature.
  • The literary genre often blends realistic settings with fantastical or mythical elements, presenting them as commonplace within the narrative, making the extraordinary seem ordinary.
  • Prominent literary figures often associated with the literary genre of Magical Realism include Gabriel García Márquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude), Jorge Luis Borges, and Isabel Allende.
  • For competitive exams, it's vital to remember that while the term is widely recognized for its literary application, its origin lies in Franz Roh's art criticism.