Abstract Expressionism

Abstract Expressionism

·      Abstract Expressionism is an American movement.

·      The meaning is ‘diverse styles and techniques, emphasizing an artists liberty to convey attributes and emotions through non-traditional and usually no presentational mean.’

·      The term was first used in Germany, it was given to Wassily Kandinsky in 1919 that is a Russian artists.

·      The movement put New York at the centre of the western art world.

·      Even though this name was given in the 1919’s this movement really made its make in the 1950’s.

·      Wassily Kandinsky moved from Germany at the time of the first world war to escape from Hitler and his decision to execute all artists he called degenerate. Kandinsky brought the name over to New York.

Abstract Expressionism is an American movement. This put New York at the centre of the western art world. Germany was the place where the term was first used, it was given to Wassily Kandinsky in 1919 that is a Russian artists. Even though this name was given in the 1919’s this movement really made its make in the 1950’s. Wassily Kandinsky moved from Germany at the time of the First World War to escape from Hitler and his decision to execute all artists he called degenerate. Kandinsky brought the name over to New York.

·      Artists mainly baised in New York

·      Inspired by surrealist ideas that art should come from the subconscious/unconscious mind and the automatism of artist joan miro

·      2 types of groups – those who use expressive strokes – those who fill it with abstract forms and colour.

·      Action painters Jackson Pollock and willem de kooning

·      2^nd group mark Rothko and Barnett newman and clyfford still

Within Abstract Expressionism there are 2 groups, Action Painters who use expressive strokes and the second group who created compositions using large areas of colour.