Abstract Expressionism Flashcards
What were two influences on American art
A rational formalistic, purist abstract trend which originated in cubism transferred through artists such as Mondrian, Leger, Josef Alberts, and the Bauhaus designers.
The anti-rational, emotional, expressive trend promoted through surrealist artists such as Ernst, Breton, Masson, Dali and Duchamp
What was the armoury show
It introduced modern art in the new form as avant-garde European and American artworks
Who organised the armoury show
The association of American painters and sculptors
What did the museum of modern art show in its exhibitions
Cubism and Abstract art, fantastic art, dada, surrealism and major retrospective exhibition of picasso’s work
When did the government create the federal arts project
During the Great Depression
Why did the government set up the federal arts project
To give relief to arists suffereing due to economic conditions. It brought many disparate figures together. There was not formal distinction between the importance of representational or abstract art, but abstract art was more respectable
What were to origins of many artists developing abstract painting styles
The social realist and regionalist
Who was Hans Hofmann
A german born artist, teacher and theorist. His first-hand experience of cubism, fauvism and expressionism influenced his teachings in America. He emphasised the process of painting in the duality of the art world. The world of appearances was reflected in the synthesis of cubism and fauvism seen in the works created at his art school in New York.
Why are the artists usually refereed to as abstract expressionists
Jackson Pollock Franz Kline Ad Reinhardt Robert Motherwell Adolph Gotlieb Mark Rothko Willed de Kooning Clifford Still Barnett Newman
Who was Harold Rosenberg
An art critic and unofficial spokesperson of abstract expressionists
What did the article published by Rosenberg give rise to
The use of the term action painters
What was the title of the article published by Rosenberg
The American action painters
What were action painters
Artists whose paintings became the physical act of painting. The action of painting was no longer the action of the wrist, but rather the action of the whole body. The act of painting was seen as an existential exercise which revealed the personality of the artist and was an extreme form of honesty and self-expression
Who was Clement Greenberg
Another art critic
What did Greenberg feel about modern art
He felt that it hanged along formal aspects
What were colourfield painters
Artists who would paint extended areas or fields with colour
Which artists were colourfield painters
Rothko, Still and Newman
What did colourfield painters strive to do
Remove any motifs which would evoke associations. They used abstract form and expressive colour to communicate with the viewer in an immediate way
What is the subject matter of abstract expressionism
There is no conventional, realistic subject matter. Mainly abstract works were created: physical painting and colourfield painting. Large surfaces of colour became central to conveying an honest self-examination fo the artists personal emergence which is derived from the subconscious.
What is the composition of abstract expressionism
Most artists filled the whole canvas Edith non-representational composition. Action painters had no motifs and filled paintings with expressive brushstroke that could continue past the edge of the frame. Colourfield painters created more structured and geometric or organic compositionsa
Two dimensional
Flatness of canvas emphasised. Avoided any conscious reference to depth: layers of paint, overlapping
Shapes
Meant to be interpreted as brushstrokes, drips or geometric surfaces of colour divided by smaller geometric surfaces of other colour. Doesn’t refer to anything recognisable
Application
Action painters: gestural, aggressive, handwriting, tells us about emotion and experiences of artist
Colourfield painters: not as gestural. Newman- no sign of texture
Colour
Generally did not refer to visual reality. Very important to colourfield painters who saw non figurative colour surfaces as expressions of ideas of transcendence and infinite
Abstract expressionism (summary)
Seen as typically American in spirit as all the artworks were monumental in scale which conveyed romantic mood of rugged individual freedom and vast spaces of America.
