Gestural abstraction

The phrase gestural abstraction refers to a way of making art - not what necessarily gets painted, but how it does.  By abandoning the application of paint to a surface in a controlled and premeditated way, gestural painters apply paint intuitively, physically, by dripping, splattering, pouring, smearing or throwing it at the surface itself. What matters to the gestural abstraction painters then isn't the paint but the physicality, honesty, intuition and deep personal expression. This in turn leads to the artist abandoning a focus on subject matter, turning inward for inspiration. As such, the act of painting itself becomes the subject. Willem de Kooning, Lee Krasner and Franz Kline led this movement from the 1940s onwards, with Jackson Pollock undoubtedly being the most notable with his pierced paint tins, dripping across the surface of Number 1A, 1948 (1948).  Abstract gestural painters explore their deepest emotions and they express that part of themselves during the physical act of painting. Pollock would later note that he had no fears about making changes to a painting, because, he said, the work has a life of its own. The painting itself is a relic of the action, it is a recording of the gestures made. Still influencing artists today, the likes of Caroline Vis and Sebastien Desnos (s3b desnos) both reference Pollock in their work, either echoing the expression of emotion or indeed as Desnos puts it, “action painting."

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Painting, Waves, Juliana Haggoo

Juliana Haggoo

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

$2,904

Painting, Devotion, Caroline Vis

Caroline Vis

Painting - 100 x 210 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 82.7 x 0.8 inch

$6,049

Fine Art Drawings, #11082022, Michael Verlangieri

Michael Verlangieri

Fine Art Drawings - 76.2 x 111.8 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 44 x 0.1 inch

$7,965

Painting, Expansion, Eliana Sá

Eliana Sá

Painting - 89 x 116 x 2 cm Painting - 35 x 45.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,573

Painting, Abstract 2358, Alex Senchenko

Alex Senchenko

Painting - 100 x 120 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 47.2 x 1.6 inch

$2,339 $1,871

Painting, Opposition, Âme Sauvage

Âme Sauvage

Painting - 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$103

Painting, Abstract 2520, Alex Senchenko

Alex Senchenko

Painting - 80 x 210 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 82.7 x 1.6 inch

$2,683 $2,146

Painting, Sunny, Gaëlle Wagner

Gaëlle Wagner

Painting - 180 x 300 x 0.1 cm Painting - 70.9 x 118.1 x 0 inch

$14,518

Painting, Abstract 2283, Alex Senchenko

Alex Senchenko

Painting - 100 x 150 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 59.1 x 1.6 inch

$2,339 $1,871

Painting, L'île sainte, Âme Sauvage

Âme Sauvage

Painting - 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Painting - 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

$103

Painting, Claim 101, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 100 x 140 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 55.1 x 0.8 inch

$2,420

Painting, Style flash, Âme Sauvage

Âme Sauvage

Painting - 38 x 46 x 2.4 cm Painting - 15 x 18.1 x 0.9 inch

$387

Painting, Sky symphony 1, H-Nguyen

H-Nguyen

Painting - 50 x 65 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

$823

Painting, Por Favor, Nikolaos Schizas

Nikolaos Schizas

Painting - 97 x 130 x 0.1 cm Painting - 38.2 x 51.2 x 0 inch

$4,746

Painting, Claim 102, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 100 x 150 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

$2,831

Painting, NUM — 082, Damien Berrard

Damien Berrard

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

$1,089

Painting, Claim 107, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 90 x 130 x 1.5 cm Painting - 35.4 x 51.2 x 0.6 inch

$1,887 $1,415

Painting, Claim 82, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 100 x 130 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 51.2 x 0.4 inch

$2,032

Painting, Confrontation 3, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 95 x 199.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 37.4 x 78.7 x 1 inch

$1,250

Painting, ADN privé, Muriel Deumie

Muriel Deumie

Painting - 50 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,040

Painting, Day & Night 4, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 100 x 200 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,887

Painting, Claim 99, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 100 x 130 x 1.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 51.2 x 0.6 inch

$2,032

Painting, Claim 81, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 100 x 140 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 55.1 x 0.4 inch

$2,420

Painting, Journeys III, H-Nguyen

H-Nguyen

Painting - 73 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 28.7 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$2,129

Painting, Journeys IV, H-Nguyen

H-Nguyen

Painting - 73 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 28.7 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$2,129

Painting, Patchwork 2, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 79 x 150 x 1 cm Painting - 31.1 x 59.1 x 0.4 inch

$1,391

Painting, RE18, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 90 x 120 x 1.5 cm Painting - 35.4 x 47.2 x 0.6 inch

$2,662

Painting, Claim 121, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting - 100 x 150 x 1.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 59.1 x 0.6 inch

$2,831

Painting, Confrontation 3, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 95 x 200 x 1 cm Painting - 37.4 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,512

Painting, Strangers 7, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 95 x 200 x 1 cm Painting - 37.4 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

$2,601

Painting, Spartacus, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 100 x 200 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,996

Painting, Krabi by M.Y., Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 95 x 200 x 1 cm Painting - 37.4 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,754

Painting, In the city, Muriel Deumie

Muriel Deumie

Painting - 40 x 120 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 47.2 x 0.4 inch

$1,307

Painting, SDO-7, H-Nguyen

H-Nguyen

Painting - 50 x 70 cm Painting - 19.7 x 27.6 inch

$714

Painting, Alchemy 2, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 100 x 150 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 59.1 x 0.4 inch

$1,803

Painting, Space 2, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting - 80 x 200 x 1 cm Painting - 31.5 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,149