Precisionism

Often remembered as the precursor to Abstract Expressionism, the term “precisionism" was coined by MoMA's first director Alfred H. Barr Jr. in the years following the First World War. The artists who defined the Precisionism movement shared a common goal of depicting the highly modernized architecture and urban industry of post-war America. These depictions distinctively eliminated visual detail, and sharply reduced their subjects to the essential geometric and mechanical forms observed in the newly commercialized landscape of the United States.

Though Precisionism originated in America and inherently articulated the American experience, the movement has been recognized for having sought visual inspiration from the European avant-garde movements of Cubism and Futurism which had recently preceded it. In fact, certain historians estimate that the starting point of this exchange can be traced back to the 1913 Armory Exhibition of Modern Art. This marked the beginning of a shared style characterized by geometrization, visual clarity, and a smooth handling of surfaces.

Artsper's experts have curated a selection of works by artists who both pioneered and were inspired by this iconic movement: one which is steeped in the post-war history of the United States, and continues to be regarded as a relic of its time. Some of our favorites include Edward Hopper, Joseph Stella, and Georgia O'Keeffe.

Read more
Print, Rebelle, Miguel Guía

Rebelle

Miguel Guía

Print - 90 x 90 x 0.3 cm Print - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.1 inch

$6,905

Painting, L'air #3, Marion Sagon

L'air #3

Marion Sagon

Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$476

Painting, Vapeur, Elise Barat

Vapeur

Elise Barat

Painting - 195 x 114 x 2 cm Painting - 76.8 x 44.9 x 0.8 inch

$2,381

Painting, La danse XXI, Elise Barat

La danse XXI

Elise Barat

Painting - 130 x 97 x 2 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 0.8 inch

$1,548

Photography, 65 Flats, Barry Cawston

65 Flats

Barry Cawston

Photography - 82.5 x 90 x 2 cm Photography - 32.5 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

$1,906

Painting, L'air #4, Marion Sagon

L'air #4

Marion Sagon

Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

$476

Painting, Tropiques, Elise Barat

Tropiques

Elise Barat

Painting - 73 x 92 x 2 cm Painting - 28.7 x 36.2 x 0.8 inch

$595

Painting, Absolut V, Elise Barat

Absolut V

Elise Barat

Painting - 70 x 70 x 2.5 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 1 inch

$774

Painting, Mist, Monset Virgili

Mist

Monset Virgili

Painting - 92 x 73 x 3 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch

$833

Photography, Level 7, Barry Cawston

Level 7

Barry Cawston

Photography - 100 x 120 x 2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

$3,274

Painting, Nues V, Elise Barat

Nues V

Elise Barat

Painting - 65 x 81 x 2.5 cm Painting - 25.6 x 31.9 x 1 inch

$714

Photography, 23 Flats, Barry Cawston

23 Flats

Barry Cawston

Photography - 82.5 x 90 x 2 cm Photography - 32.5 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

$1,906

Print, Monkey, Jacques Monory

Monkey

Jacques Monory

Print - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$464

Photography, 195 Flats, Barry Cawston

195 Flats

Barry Cawston

Photography - 110 x 120 x 2 cm Photography - 43.3 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

$4,166

Photography, Havana pool, Barry Cawston

Havana pool

Barry Cawston

Photography - 100 x 120 x 2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

$4,166

Painting, Aube, Elise Barat

Aube

Elise Barat

Painting - 40 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$536

Painting, La serre, Camille Hilaire

La serre

Camille Hilaire

Painting - 60 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting - 23.6 x 28.7 x 1 inch

$8,334

Print, Nice, Camille Hilaire

Nice

Camille Hilaire

Print - 51 x 37 cm Print - 20.1 x 14.6 inch

$238