Abstract Expressionism In America

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Abstract Expressionism is defined as “an artistic movement of the mid-20th century comprising diverse styles and techniques and emphasizing especially an artist's liberty to convey attitudes and emotions through nontraditional and usually nonrepresentational means” (Merriam-webster). Abstract expressionism is the first are movement of America and it is one of the most diverse movements. A few of the leading artist of this movement were Mark Rothko, Robert Motherwell, Barnett Newman, and Jackson Pollock.
Abstract Expressionism, which is simular to Automatism, emerged as the first movement in America in the 1940’s while the country was still recovering from World War II (visual-arts-cork.com). Abstract Expressionism is a work of art that shows the artists feelings and emotions through the random looking colors and stroks but even though it looks random it is usually well thought out and planned (artlex.com). …show more content…

The two groupings were “action painters” like Jackson Poolock who “focused on an intensely expressive style of gestural painting” and the more passive “color-field” painters like like Mark Rothko who were more concerned with reflection and mood (visual-arts-cork.com). It is a very diverse movement, each atrist protrayed it differently. It was and is a very personal style of art, it shows what the artist is feeling and their views on certain things. An artists most important tool is their body, their hands, fingers, and arms which are guided by their minds. Creating art is a very personal thing and artists constantly touch their work as it is created. An example of this is in figure 11.6 Fanny (Fingerpainting) by Chuck Close and the entire painting was done with his hands and fingerprints (Lazzari &

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