Began in early 1940’s, and is still practiced today
Post World War II US emotionally traumatized by the war, and
have mixed feelings built up inside.
Europe Paris New York City San Francisco Bay
Cubism
▪ 1st Modern art movement
▪ Abstract qualities
Surrealism
▪ Paintings without realistic traits
▪ Artist revealing feelings
▪ Spontaneous or automatic creation
Energetic and dynamic Depicting movement Process of creation is emphasized No obvious focal point All driven from emotions Inspiring rather than beautiful
Focus on color fields: especially bold color “Impulsive Art” Action painting No empty canvas Large Format Complex
Artists seen as troublemakers and rebellious Provoked questions of “What is art?” Artwork from direct expression of artists’
conscious Emotional intensity from extreme feelings
due to the aftermath of the war (Trauma-based)
Hesitant to accept this artwork unlike any other
Critics didn’t approve at first because they didn’t know how to respond
Later became fans of the main 3 artists, but looked down upon those following
American Artist, 1912-1956 Nicknamed “Jack The Dripper” Studied painting in at Art’s Student League in
New York under Thomas Hart Benton Influenced by Mexican Muralists Created the “Dripping Technique” Federal Art Project Married Lee Krasner, another Abstract
Expressionist Alcohol issue
Main techniques:
Dripping
Pouring paint from cans
Using sticks, knives, sand, broken glass, and other unusual materials
Put the canvas on the floor and worked at all angles
Would stop working on a piece, and come back to it later
Dutch American painter 1904-1997 Studied at the Rotterdam Academy of Fine
Arts and Techniques Immigrated to the U.S. in 1926 Worked illegally as a commercial
artist, window dresser, sign painter, and carpenter in New York.
Married to Elaine de Kooning who was also an abstract expressionist.
Main Techniques
Main style was “Action-Painting”
Spontaneous brushwork
Used a lot of abstract shapes to represent real world items
Used human figures and landscapes as the spotlight of his work
Would stop working on a piece, and come back to it later
Female American Artist, 1928-2011 Created artwork with freedom, spontaneity, and
complexity Her work tied nature and emotions together Critics loved and supported her work Learned from Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline at a
young age
Main Techniques
Invented the “Soak-Stain” technique
Color Field Painting
Enjoyed woodcut
Altered Pollock’s drip techniques and applied them to her art
Gave her art a “flat” look with minimal depth
Used natural landscapes for inspiration in her work
MARK ROTHKO
Russian-American Denied the label of being an
“Abstract Expressionist” Played with color fields Simplistic style Played with color and light
ROBERT MOTHERWELL
American Attempted to paint
monumental, important things Dramatic, bright brush strokes Very emotional More abstract
No. 61(Rust and Blue)1953
Four Darks in Red1958
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