Kitsch, Kitschy: Mid-Century Modern Collectibles, Eames, George Nelson, Frank Lloyd Wright,

There have been a lot of rumblings in the past years, mostly coming from people who call themselves true art antiquities aficionados, regarding the value and worth of what they call Kitsch. The word Kitsch comes from German meaning excessively garish or sentimental art; usually considered to be bad taste. Another way to describe Kitsch is to say it is art or decorative objects and other forms of representation of questionable artistic or aesthetic value.

Clement Greenburg, in 1939, wrote an essay where he defined Kitsch to be -ill thought out. In this famous essay, which he later rejected, he was making a social statement regarding the avant garde class of the 1930s. An avant garde class is a small part of a population of artists, and thinkers (at least they think so) who are considered to be ahead of their time or of the mainstream of society; trying out new ideas with gusto, pride and a sense of superiority.

The word Kitsch then is subjective and the judgment of the value of an object de' art is up to the whim of the ear and the eye of the beholder. Vincent Van Gough is a prime example of an artist whose work was not valued during his lifetime, only to become extremely valuable and collectible after he died. Another artist who did not live to enjoy his success and fame is Carl Frederick Hill. Hill's work is now aligned with the French avant garde period (1920s and 30s) and is quite in demand.

One can ask, "How can gifted artists, designers, and craftsman live their whole life dreaming and creating and not be recognized or acclaimed until after their death". A very simple answer is...their style was not popular or in vogue at the time they were living. What is considered valuable is subjective and up to the whim of what is in style at the time. With all of this said, it seems that the old saying - in the eye of the beholder - continues to be a good way to interpret the term Kitsch. What is one person's pleasure can be another man's pain.

The Mid Century Modern design period is Kitsch to some and manna to others. If your taste runs toward the Mid Century period with its designers such as Eames, Saarinen, Frank Lloyd Wright, Bauhaus, Joseph Eichler, and others, then you will pay high dollars to purchase originals, and in many cases, reproductions and knock-offs. If your taste runs toward Victorian and Primitives, you may believe with all of your heart that Mid Century Modern is Kitsch.

The author's preference is to be reverential when talking about, looking at, and buying icons from the Mid Century Modern era. Not wanting to be judgmental, but never wanting to tell a lie, other periods of antiques and collectibles just seem a bit Kitschy. Mea culpa, to one and all, if this statement caused a few Victorian and Primitive buffs to become faint of heart and need to gasp to catch their breath. Actually, there are probably minimal numbers of Victorian and Primitive collectors who would stoop to read an article on Kitsch. The key to this article is to remember that Kitsch is in the eye of the beholder.