Abstract Expressionism

By: Marisa Iafano, Paige Briggs, and Rachel Gran

Abstract Expressionism

• Sometimes called the New York School

• Based in New York• 1940s-early1960’s

Styles of Abstract Expressionism

• Very diverse movement• Included paintings, photography,

drawings and sculpture• 2 main types: color field and action

painting

Action Painting

Color Field Painting

But both had something in common…

• Expression of emotion and the unconscious

• Large scale (huge) paintings• Did not really represent any real

objects

How did it become popular?

• Art critics played a huge role in A.E.s popularity

• Valisy Kandinsky gave art movement it’s name

• Clement Greenburg was another important critic

Abstractionism vs. Abstract Expressionism

What led to Abstract Expressionism?

• Many of A.E. artists matured during 1930’s

• Works progress Administration (WPA)• Painted figurative/landscapes

Continued…

• Artists that fled Europe due to political instability came to New York

• Brought over European styles of painting

• World war II and emotions behind it inspired many paintings

Social Realism and Regionalism

• Many A.E painters started off painting with this style (size)

Surrealism

• Inspired by spontaneity of paintings• Inspired by the unconscious thought

process

Cubism and Abstractionism

• Did not paint figuratively (not always connected to reality)- non representational

German Expressionism

• Expression of emotion

Jackson Pollock

• Lived from 1912-1956• Action Painter

Painting Style

• Considered to be biggest icon of the movement

• Used very large canvases• Used splatter paint and drip paint

techniques

Autumn Rhythm, 1950

Number 1 (Lavender Mist) , 1950

Mark Rothko

• Lived from 1903-1970• Color Field Painter

Early in his career…

• Worked for Federal arts program• Studied under Arshile Gorsky• Early paintings were landscapes/

cityscapes

Painting Style

• Used large blocks of solid color• Often blended them together• Achieved style by applying many

layers of thin paint• Large scale paintings

Later Life…

• Goes into depression later on in life• Switches to a cool color pallet • Dies of overdose on depression meds

• No 3, 1949

Franz Kline

• Lived from 1910-1962• Action Painter

Early in Life

• Illustrated in high school• Painted landscapes/cityscapes early

on• Painted many works for the Cedar

Bar in Greenwich Village, NY• Taught at Pratt institution in Brooklyn

Painting Style

• Developed tastes from Japanese calligraphy

• Large rapid brush strokes• Black and White

Later on in life…

• goes more into color after WWII• Premature death in 1962 from heart

condition

• Les Gros 1961

•Chief 1950

• King Oliver1958

Willem de Kooning

• Lived from 1904-1997

• Acton Painter• “Flesh was the

reason oil paint was invented.”

Painting Style

• Showed aggression through application of paint

• Used spontaneous brush stokes• Created emotionally intense imagery• Best known for his “Women” series

• Woman V, 1952-3

• Woman III, 1953

• Woman, I (1950-52)