Abstract Expressionism
Abstract expressionism is an important post-World War II art form in American contemporary painting, developed primarily in New York City during the 1940s. It was the very first specifically American effort to attain worldwide influence and place New York in the center of the western art scene, a position previously occupied by Paris. In fact, many believed that it was the artistic impact of the United States in the world that led to the birth of abstract expressionism. However, there are many other contributing factors as well.
The major feature of this painting is that it uses vivid, shapes, and hues to depict various scenes or themes. Most significantly, however, it is a departure from the norm seen in American and European art during the 1950s. Many of the modern artists had begun to use geometric figures and forms to produce realistic imagery. However, the abstract expressionism movement distinguished itself from the rest of the American art scene during the early 1950s with its rejection of the realistic style.
This movement can be traced back to the late 1940s, although its influence may have originated much earlier. Some of its proponents claimed that the United States was being overtaken by an “apart” culture, which they thought to be a result of economic pressures and World War II. Others saw the movement as a backlash against the figurative styles prevalent in Europe during the same period. These critics felt that abstract expressionism was a step forward in American painting because it challenged the realism prevalent in the art of the time. It did this by suggesting a richness of American culture and the imagery involved was not limited to everyday objects and landscapes.
While there were critics of abstract expressionism, most art collectors and art enthusiasts during the 1950s were swept up in the excitement and enthusiasm of this emerging American art movement. Abstract art movement grew in popularity and artists began to exhibit their artwork in major museums all over the country. This was the point when these paintings began to be called abstract expressionism. Abstract art artists were heralded in numerous magazines and publications as “the new masters”. They were frequently described as living “off the grid”, refusing to follow conventional etiquette and norms associated with the art community.
This artistically bold artistic movement was to make an impact on the American pop culture and also across the world, bringing something truly unique to the table. Pop art is often dismissed by many in the art world as “toy art”, a kind of nonsense or kitschy piece of fun. But this is far from the truth. Pop art has a strong political bent and many of its concepts are relevant to today's social issues. Pop artists have used abstract expressionism to challenge the power of authority, to theorize a utopian society and to present ideas about ethnicity and national identity.
As it turned out, abstract expressionism had an enormous impact on the later developments of conceptual art and surrealism. The abstract expressionist movement paved the way for cubists like Picasso andenser. Cubists are famous for using thick layers of brush strokes and wide-spaced shapes to produce expressive works of art. Surrealists, on the other hand, used everyday items like food, milk and eggs to give life to dry and stiffen forms. A surrealist work may be simple, but its message is complex and deeply seated in thought.
The origins of abstract expressionism can be traced back to the Russian Futurist Art Director Alexi Mateyevich Menshin. He wanted to create a new form of art that would appeal to people based on their individual responses to visual stimuli. He hoped that his new style of art would help humanity move away from the stifling modernism of the 1950s. In order to test this theory, Menshin created his own brand of soft rock music. This was nothing more than house records that were painstakingly made to fit right on a gramophone. But despite his lack of formal training, he was able to perfect this new genre and introduce it to the art world.
Artists who follow in the footsteps of Abstract Expressionism include Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Peter Young, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella and more. These artists all brought something unique to the art world with their paintings. With minimalism and powerful imagery, they helped to usher in the new era of art that is known as gestural abstraction. Though many disagree with the term, many modern artists are following in the footsteps of Abstract Expressionists.
The major feature of this painting is that it uses vivid, shapes, and hues to depict various scenes or themes. Most significantly, however, it is a departure from the norm seen in American and European art during the 1950s. Many of the modern artists had begun to use geometric figures and forms to produce realistic imagery. However, the abstract expressionism movement distinguished itself from the rest of the American art scene during the early 1950s with its rejection of the realistic style.
This movement can be traced back to the late 1940s, although its influence may have originated much earlier. Some of its proponents claimed that the United States was being overtaken by an “apart” culture, which they thought to be a result of economic pressures and World War II. Others saw the movement as a backlash against the figurative styles prevalent in Europe during the same period. These critics felt that abstract expressionism was a step forward in American painting because it challenged the realism prevalent in the art of the time. It did this by suggesting a richness of American culture and the imagery involved was not limited to everyday objects and landscapes.
While there were critics of abstract expressionism, most art collectors and art enthusiasts during the 1950s were swept up in the excitement and enthusiasm of this emerging American art movement. Abstract art movement grew in popularity and artists began to exhibit their artwork in major museums all over the country. This was the point when these paintings began to be called abstract expressionism. Abstract art artists were heralded in numerous magazines and publications as “the new masters”. They were frequently described as living “off the grid”, refusing to follow conventional etiquette and norms associated with the art community.
This artistically bold artistic movement was to make an impact on the American pop culture and also across the world, bringing something truly unique to the table. Pop art is often dismissed by many in the art world as “toy art”, a kind of nonsense or kitschy piece of fun. But this is far from the truth. Pop art has a strong political bent and many of its concepts are relevant to today's social issues. Pop artists have used abstract expressionism to challenge the power of authority, to theorize a utopian society and to present ideas about ethnicity and national identity.
As it turned out, abstract expressionism had an enormous impact on the later developments of conceptual art and surrealism. The abstract expressionist movement paved the way for cubists like Picasso andenser. Cubists are famous for using thick layers of brush strokes and wide-spaced shapes to produce expressive works of art. Surrealists, on the other hand, used everyday items like food, milk and eggs to give life to dry and stiffen forms. A surrealist work may be simple, but its message is complex and deeply seated in thought.
The origins of abstract expressionism can be traced back to the Russian Futurist Art Director Alexi Mateyevich Menshin. He wanted to create a new form of art that would appeal to people based on their individual responses to visual stimuli. He hoped that his new style of art would help humanity move away from the stifling modernism of the 1950s. In order to test this theory, Menshin created his own brand of soft rock music. This was nothing more than house records that were painstakingly made to fit right on a gramophone. But despite his lack of formal training, he was able to perfect this new genre and introduce it to the art world.
Artists who follow in the footsteps of Abstract Expressionism include Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Peter Young, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella and more. These artists all brought something unique to the art world with their paintings. With minimalism and powerful imagery, they helped to usher in the new era of art that is known as gestural abstraction. Though many disagree with the term, many modern artists are following in the footsteps of Abstract Expressionists.
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