Abstract ExpressionismBy: Christy Balewski

&Sam Bush

What it is…• Abstract Expressionism is a

painting movement in which artists typically applied paint rapidly, and with force to their huge canvases in an effort to show feelings and emotions.– non-geometrically, sometimes applying

paint with large brushes, and looks as if to be an accident but is really quite planned.

History…• European artists

began moving to America during WW II.

• The main result of the new American fascination with Surrealism was the emergence of Abstract Expressionism.

• Produced in New York roughly between 1940-1960.

Jackson PollackOcean Greyness

1953

• Made New York the center of the art world, and was often called the “New York School”.

• Abstract Expressionism was the first art movement to influence artists over seas, rather than vice versa.

• Artists wanted to establish their independence from European surrealists and other art trends.

• Arshile Gorky was the artist to put this movement into motion, because his art ideals were obtained from Surrealism, Picasso, and Miro.

• Emphasized the depiction of emotion’s rather then objects.

• Paintings consisted of shapes, lines, and forms meant to create a separate reality from the visual world.

“What was to go on the canvas was nota picture, but an event.”

Critic- Harold Rosenberg

Hans HoffmanRising Moon

European Influence• European Surrealists obtained their notion of

the unconscious mind, from Sigmund Freud.

• Many Americans at this time, derived Carl Jung’s theory- the “collective unconscious” holds that beneath ones private memories, is a store house of feeling and symbolic thoughts.

• With all the European influence, Abstract Expressionists sought universal themes within themselves.

Action/Gestural Painting• One of the two

techniques for Abstract Expressionism was known as Action Painting.

– A style of painting which paint is spontaneously dripped, splashed or smeared onto the canvas, rather then being carefully applied.Willem de Kooning- Paris Review

1979

Jackson Pollock (1912-1956)

• Influenced by Mexican muralist painters, and Surrealism.

• Canvases were usually on the floor, or the wall where he dripped or poured on the paint.

• Used knives, sticks, or towels instead of brushes.

• Occasionally putting sand, broken glass, or other matter, into his paintings.

• Resulted in direct expression and “Action Painting”.

Jackson Pollock

Shimmering Substance

1946

Jackson PollockEnchanted Forest

1947

Jackson Pollock Lavender Mist

1950

“I have no fears about making

changes, destroying the

image… because the painting has a life of its own.”

Jackson Pollock

Arshile Gorky (1904-1948)

• 3 Factors in work of the 1940’s– Intense childhood

memories of Armenia, prime subject matter.

– Growing interest in Surrealism.

– Many discussion with colleagues about Jungian ideas.

Waterfall- Arshile Gorky (1943)

• The unstructured shapes, and drips of paint hint at the fluidity of the Waterfall.

Arshile Gorky - One Year the Milkweed

1944

Willem de Kooning• A pioneer in Abstract

Expressionism.• Tried to capture

energy and emotion through Action Painting.

• Alternated between abstract and figural painting.

• Blended traditional forms, with a sense of uncertainty.

Willem de KooningWoman I

1950-1952

Willem de KooningPink Angels

1945

Willem de KooningBlack Friday

1948

Willem de Kooning

Women III1952

Willem de KooningExcavation

1950

Franz Kline (1910-1962)

• His works around 1946 had a Cubist structure, or were abstract.

• Around 1950, he made large calligraphic paintings in black and white.

• In 1958, Kline introduced color in some of his works.

Franz KlineFigure Eight

1952

Franz KlineNew York, N.Y.

1952

Franz KlineUntitled

1958

Color Field/Chromatic Painting

• The Second Type of Abstract Expressionism paintings.

• Paintings with solid area of color covering the whole canvas.

• Meant to be seen up close, so the viewer is immersed in color.

Mark Rothko(1903-1970)

• Asymmetrical blocks of color, and painted the edges of his canvases, then displayed them without frames.

• Titles were unimaginative leaving the interpretation up to the viewer.

Mark RothkoRed, Orange, Tan

and Purple1949

Mark Rothko Orange and Red on Red

1957

Kenneth Noland(1924-2010)

• First to stain canvases with thinned paints.– Appeared as pure

and saturated color. • Made concentric

rings, and parallels, in relation to the size of the canvas.

Kenneth NolandHeat1958

Kenneth Noland

Back and Front1960

Sculptures• David Smith is one of the most famous

Abstract Expressionism sculptor’s• He created large, steel geometric sculptors• His motivations were similar to that of the

painters• His most famous sculptors are his Cubi series

David SmithCubi XIX

1964

What it Influenced• Created a whole new way to look at

art

• Influenced later art movements– Pop Art–Minimalism– Tachisme