Research Task: Christoph Niemann and Saul Steinberg

Christoph Niemann

Christoph Niemann, an illustrator of The New Yorker, finds the right line of the viewer's understanding and the illustration being abstract-- making sure that the viewer doesn't feel stupid. Niemann's illustrations are topical and mostly serious behind it's dynamic, mostly colourful and contrast facade. Rather than taking inspiration from life itself, like as seen in the documentary series 'Abstract: The Art of Design', he is really put of by sitting in a coffee shop and drawing people-- but sit him down in a room and let him play with objects then a plunder of different illustrations would be created.

1

Niemann mainly uses flat colour with a colour contrast that makes his illustrations pop! He loves to play with line, shape and loves to not have control in his work; it's fun to look at initially but the underlying meaning is much more topical. Niemann twists and plays with his illustrations, taking exploration to a new level in every illustration he does. 1

3

Saul Steinberg

Saul Steinberg, another illustrator of The New Yorker, explores much more detailed illustrations with ink; giving us a view of what we can see that what lies beneath the piece. Steinberg uses inks rather than a variety of mediums such as Niemann- though his imagination never falters; creating drawings that explore "emotive linework" and using lots of detail with different techniques like flow lines, zig-zags or stuttering. 4

5

Compared to Niemann inspirations with objects and his surroundings, Steinberg took his inspirations from cartoons from his childhood which he then did as a career before moving to commercial art; creating characteristics of people to express their inner personality, whereas Niemann's are simply reduced to shapes and and simple lines. 6

7

Evaluation/Reflection

Taking a look back at my research and as I write this, what I found was a lot of inspiration! Looking at both of these artists, seeing their different techniques, mediums, and styles, fills me with a confidence in exploring; looking into taking inspiration and understanding how I look at the world around me. More importantly I will take with me the play they have, they may not create realistic works that convey a message like the old masters but they do just as much with simple lines or shapes.

This is something I would love to explore in the exercise 'Drawing with objects: A journey scrapbook', I want to play-- making sure I myself draw from life to build the fundamentals but not worrying too much that I get hung up on getting it exactly right, just making sure I get the feeling of the place.

I found that the Netflix show, 'Abstract: The Art of Design' episode of Christoph Niemann was so inspiring and helped me a lot with this research task; and I will be exploring this show to look into abstract more (as said in my feedback).

1 Niemann, Christoph Niemann 'Sunday Sketches', U/A. https://www.christophniemann.com/detail/sunday-sketches-2/ Accessed Apr 20, 2023.

2 Netflix, Netflix 'Abstract: The Art of Design', 2017. https://www.netflix.com/watch/80093803?trackId=14170287&tctx=2%2C0%2C0dc3067d-4513-46ea-9664-5bf10672e754-101380628%2CNES_CA2516C600FE83B7EA641D6DA42AEE-994911DC4F528C-8BDD50D76F_p_1681984751066%2CNES_CA2516C600FE83B7EA641D6DA42AEE_p_1681984751066%2C%2C%2C%2C%2CVideo%3A80057883%2CdetailsPagePlayButton Accessed Apr 20, 2023.

3 Niemann, Christoph Niemann 'The New Yorker', May 16, 2016. https://www.christophniemann.com/detail/nyercover/ Accessed Apr 20, 2023.

4 U/A, Artsy 'Saul Steinberg', U/A. https://www.artsy.net/artist/saul-steinberg Accessed Apr 20, 2023.

5 U/A, Saul Steinberg Foundation 'View of the World from 9th Avenue & Steinbergian Cartography', U/A. https://saulsteinbergfoundation.org/essay/view-of-the-world-from-9th-avenue/ Accessed Apr 20, 2023.

6 U/A, NGA (National Gallery of Art) 'Saul Steinberg', U/A. https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.6322.html Accessed Apr 20, 2023.

7 Google: Arts & Culture, 'Wedding' by Saul Steinberg, 1950. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/wedding/oAGCziYwacj7_w?hl=en-GB Accessed Apr 20, 2023.