Abstract Expressionism

Abstract Expressionism?

Abstract expressionism is an American Painting Movement, it started in the late 1940s and dominated the Western painting culture in the 1950s. This movement began in New York City and changed the focus of the art world.?

The best-known examples of abstract expressionism are large-scale paintings that do not follow the normal painting techniques, pulling the canvas off the easel and using unusual materials like house paint.

The abstract expressionist created artworks that were abstract, expressive, and emotional at the same time. The artists were influenced by Joan Miro's automatism as well as the surrealist belief that art should come from the unconscious mind. The movement did indeed contain a variety of techniques, with its own style and a different level of expression. The paintings from that era are diverse but have some common characteristics.?

Characteristics of Abstract Expressionism?

Abstract expressionism has a number of traits that distinguish this art form from others. the following are some of the key characteristics:?

1. Abstract expressionists used paint's physical properties to evoke expressive qualities.?

2. The artist values freedom, spontaneity, and emotional expression.

3. Some paintings had paints applied to them with sweeping gestural brushstrokes or the paints were splattered without the use of brushes. Such paintings were known as action paintings which revealed the artist's psyche.

4. Large swaths of color in restrained composition represented another style of painting, known as color field painting.?

Artworks of Abstract Expressionists

Jackson Pollock?

Jackson Pollock

(Source: Google)

He was the symbol of the Abstract Expressionism movement and was well renowned for his drip paintings. His painting style and creativity were unrivaled. His painting method gave rise to the term "action painting". Pollock was a master in this field and influenced many other painters.?

Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)

Autumn Rhythm

(Source: Google)

This artwork is a well-known example of Pollock's "drip" painting style. He created this piece by pouring, splattering, and applying the paint to the canvas lying on the ground. The term "action painting" was first used by critic Rosenberg in reference to such a painting style.??

Joan Mitchell

Joan Mitchell

(Source: Google)

As a member of the new generation of abstract expressionists, she softened the style and gave a poetic and emotional tone to her artworks. She spent most of her time living and working in France but gave a massive contribution to the American movement. Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Cezanne were her role models. She was one of the few female artists in the genre and gained huge popularity.?

City Landscape

City landscape

(Source: Google)

This piece, made in 1955, demonstrated a wide range of hues, and strokes of hot pink and scarlet with blue, green, and black colors.?

Clyfford Still

(Source: Google)

Clyfford Still focused mostly on representational painting in the early 1940s, gloomy, dark images in somber hues. He was interested in juxtaposing various colors and textures into a variety of shapes, this led to his shift into Abstract Expressionism.

1957-D-No. 1

(Source: Google)

This artwork by Clyfford Still is dramatic in scale and is one of his two paintings that were added to the museum's collection during the 1950s.?