Abstract Expressionism is an art movement that emerged in New York City during the 1940s and was characterized by its large gestural brushstrokes, abstracted forms, and bold colors. The artists of this movement rejected traditional rules of composition and emphasized their own emotions instead of relying on symbolic references or narratives to create their work.
The movement was seen as a reaction against the conventional aesthetic of earlier modernist movements like Cubism and Surrealism. Unlike these earlier styles which attempted to create works that were more realistic representations of objects, the artists of the Abstract Expressionist movement were focused on expressing more pure, subjective emotions and perceptions.
They often used gestural techniques like dripping paint, scribbling lines, or throwing paint to create their works, creating a sense of spontaneity and raw energy. Their compositions were typically non-linear, with pieces that combined several different paints in a single work, and were often described as “organic” due to the way their shapes seemed to flow together.
The works of Abstract Expressionism are still influential today, and many contemporary artists that focus on painting techniques like gestural marks or expressionistic brushstrokes continue to be inspired by this movement. Additionally, the rise in popularity of abstract works like those of the Abstract Expressionists has led to an increased interest in modern and contemporary art, with many museums and galleries featuring exhibitions dedicated to this movement or focusing on individual artists within it.
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Abstract Expressionism
- Helen Frankenthaler
- Willem de Kooning
- Franz Kline
- Jackson Pollock
- Mark Rothko
- Clyfford Still
