Abstract Expressionism- World of Art

Synopsis

Abstract Expressionism is the most important art movement since the Second World War. Although it is often considered a revolution in painting alone - for the images created by such leading figures as Jackson Pollock, Clyfford Still, Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko remain altogether extraordinary - its radical spirit extended further, encompassing the sculpture of David Smith and Aaron Siskind's photography. Along with other key artists such as Barnett Newman and Franz Kline, these artists formed a nucleus united not just against the tensions of American society from the 1930s onwards, but also in their aim to forge diverse new visual languages. David Anfam explores the movement in terms of its political implications and rich cultural contexts, bringing many fresh insights to the works themselves. Taking into account a wealth of scholarship, this new edition also has nearly one hundred works reproduced in colour.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Origins of Abstract Expressionism

* Traces the roots of abstract expressionism in European modernism, particularly surrealism and abstraction.
* Discusses the work of artists like Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, and Joan Miró, who experimented with abstraction and non-representational art.
* Example: Kandinsky's "Composition VII" (1913) features abstract shapes and colors, creating a sense of dynamism and movement.

Chapter 2: The New York School

* Explores the emergence of abstract expressionism in New York City in the 1940s.
* Discusses the influence of the World War II years, which created a sense of urgency and disruption.
* Example: Jackson Pollock's "Number 1A, 1948" showcases his technique of drip painting, creating intricate webs of paint and evoking a sense of chaos and energy.

Chapter 3: Action Painting

* Focuses on the gestural and spontaneous techniques used by abstract expressionists.
* Discusses the work of artists like Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Franz Kline, who emphasized the physicality and process of painting itself.
* Example: de Kooning's "Excavation" (1955) features bold, gestural brushstrokes that suggest layers of buried history and experience.

Chapter 4: Color Field Painting

* Explores the shift in abstract expressionism towards more lyrical and meditative canvases in the 1950s.
* Discusses the work of artists like Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and Clyfford Still, who used large expanses of color and subtle gradations.
* Example: Rothko's "Red on Maroon" (1958) creates a sense of calm and contemplation through its simple, blocky forms and saturated colors.

Chapter 5: The Legacy of Abstract Expressionism

* Examines the impact of abstract expressionism on subsequent art movements and contemporary art.
* Discusses how its focus on abstraction and spontaneity influenced artists across generations.
* Example: The work of Cy Twombly, Robert Rauschenberg, and Yayoi Kusama demonstrates the enduring influence of abstract expressionism on later artists.