Abstract Expressionnism Movement

Abstract Expressionism is a movement that seeks to represent emotions through abstraction. It rejects the concept of realism, and instead embraces the spontaneity of emotions felt during the creation of the work. Incorporating approximately fifteen major painters, Abstract Expressionism began in New York, in the midst of the 1929 economic crash, and dominated post-war American art from 1940 to 1962. It is also associated with The New York School, a collective of American poets, painters, dancers, and musicians who were active in the 1950s and 60s in New York City. It is additionally associated with the The School of Paris which was made up of French and émigé artists. Inspired by Surrealism, artists such as Jackson Pollock, Barnett Newman, Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko created large-format paintings with little depth. Abstract Expressionists sought to reflect their feelings, and placed a great importance on the value of experimenting with their work and their freedom as artists. Painting becomes a form of self-expression, facilitating the communication of a variety of emotions.

There are two main artistic trends in Abstract Expressionism: Action Painting and Color-Field Painting. Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock are central figures in Action Painting, and prioritise physical encounters with the canvas when creating. The canvas is a witness to every action and gesture the artists make, using techniques such as dripping, blurring, splashing or smearing. Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko were major figures in Color-Field Painting, which literally consisted of painting in fields of colour. Colour is freed from context and becomes the very essence of the work; placing importance on the consistency and process of the piece.

Supported by renowned gallerist, Peggy Guggenheim and critics Harold Rosenberg and Clément Greenberg, Action Painting and Color-Field Painting were considered as new directions for contemporary art.

Mark Rothko: painter and one of the pioneers of American Abstract Expressionism. However, Rothko refused to be associated with this title as he found it “alienating." His hostility towards Action Painting resulted in a new, and more contemplative technique; Color-Field Painting.

Jackson Pollock: a major figure in 20th century American art, his revolutionary creative methods influenced many artists during the Abstract Expressionism movement. His influence was heavily felt in contemporary art history, particularly his famous “dripping" technique.

Barnett Newman: one of the most important figures of Abstract Expressionism and along with Mark Rothko, he was one of the practitioners of Color-field Painting. Newman wrote the preface for the AMA's (the American Modern Artists) first exhibition, which was a protest against the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which had banned modern art in its exhibitions.

Willem de Kooning: painter of Dutch origin (and later a naturalised American citizen), he was forerunner in the Abstract Expressionism movement. In 1942, he participated in the group exhibition called "American and French Painters," where he met Marcel Duchamp and Jackson Pollock.

Even the successors of Abstract Expressionism today let their unconscious guide them through their works. Despite their abstract nature, these works still intend to convey an important message to the viewer. Emotions, like artworks, vary greatly and here at Artsper we understand how personal choosing an artwork is!

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Abstract Expressionnism Movement

Amadeo Modellani

Doors behind doors (project Life of 13 Doors)

Ins Neue

Ink album (Red lipstick)

Ink album (Self portrait)

Ink album (Girl)

Figure 02239. The image expresses itself.

Figure summary, 1980

Figure, 1979

Figure summary, 1979

Birth

Nature morte et montagne

Kopfe gen Sonne

Auf dem land

Kopfnote

Freigeist

Herzblatt

Allererste Sahne

Unbeschriebenes

Ink album (Still life)

Figura, sintesi 02802

Im Park

Modella in rosso. The image expresses itself:

Immagine 3

Immagine 5

Colomba

Bird DESTOCKAGE

Composition with figure, 1981

Personaggio, 1985

Figure summary, 1979

Reiclinig figure, 1997

Sintesi di figura, Figure summary, 1978

Figura, 1976 The image expresses itself!!

Head, 1979

Triangular head, 1979

Sprungturm

Herzweg

Ein Herz und eine Seele

Gehauseschutz

Befreiung

Marc Chagall

Francis Bacon

Back from the beach

Glaube

Uber den Wolken

Silhouette 11

Blumen und Wasser

Neu

Fruhling

Baumschule

Flash

Sommets

L'intelligence

Personaggio, 1980/1

Personaggio, 1978

Personaggio, 1981

Composizione con modella, 1978

Figure summary, 1979

Figure summary, 1981

Subject who maches himself a selfportrait under tanding of the figure, 1982

Subject who maches himself a selfportrait under standing of the figure, 1982

Portrait, 1981

Figure summary, 1977

Figure summary, 1979

Portrait, 1979

Figure, 1980