Art has been part of life since immemorial and has evolved depending on its time, creating impact. One of the significant renowned art movements is abstract expressionism. The movement surfaced after the Second World War, and its inception was in America. The art dates back to the 1940s in New York City. Abstract expressionism was the first of its kind since it was the first American art movement that received international recognition. The art also put New York at the core of the western art world. Some artists from the movement include Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, and Franz Kline. These artists made the movement major in the 1950s and have been a case study.
Abstract expressionism is vital in art as it marked the shift of the creative center of modern painting. Before the Second World War, the modern painting was held in high regard in Paris since the art movement preceding abstract expressionism was from Paris. When abstract expressionism began, it changed the center from Paris to New York City, bringing a transition in modern art (Doss, 1995). The western world began to have a different perspective of art which was absent in the previous movements. In abstract expressionism, the subject is not represented realistically. The new way of painting changed how people looked at art. Before the movement, most paintings were representational, where subjects were realistic and recognizable. The movement explored a different representational form that spoke volumes and influenced art.
An abstract image entails the representation of a subject unrealistically. An artist uses colors and shapes to portray the general attributes of the subject, and the viewer can figure out the subject when they see the art. Expressionism art portrays the thoughts and feelings of an artist toward a particular subject (Doss, 1995). Abstract expressionism was thus life-changing art in its time since it portrays ideas and emotions via non-representational forms. The pieces of art from the abstract expressionism movement have no recognizable subjects. The pieces are large canvas surfaces covered in multiple paint colors, and most of the pieces often depict non-objective forms. Abstract expressionism thus has two vital tendencies, color field and action painting which define the movement.
Some artists influenced the change in abstract expressionism representation with different art ideologies from traditional concepts. One of the major artists in the movement was Jackson Pollock, whose art was different from the norm. Pollock was a painter who received high recognition for his drip technique (Emmerling, 2003). When Pollock began painting, he set off with representational art pieces but changed after a while. He ventured into an unconventional world of art by the standards of his time. He has large-scale paintings that break away from traditional artistic processes. As an initiator of abstract expressionism, Pollock used unconventional materials in his art creation, like house paint. While painting, he splashed or poured household paint on a horizontal surface. The technique allowed him to view his piece from a broader perspective and paint the canvases from all angles. It got rid of angle limits making his art sight to behold and making him the pioneer of abstract expressionism.
Pollock learned about art from different sources that influenced his art. In the beginning, he emulated his teacher, who was a revolutionary painter but then adjusted his perspective. He was interested in a group of Mexican painters who created mural paintings and borrowed some concepts from them (Emmerling, 2003). Using large canvases to create his pieces and freely applying paint to the canvas was a borrowed concept as he tried to shift his artistic perspective. Pollock created very physical art, which characterizes abstract expressionism as abstract painting. Unlike other painters who put their canvases on upright support, he put his on the floor, which made it easy to drip the paint. He created energetic pieces due to the change in technique and was a revolutionary painter.
Pollock’s art is an explosion of colors, shapes, and curving lines. When one looks at the art keenly, the hand movements of the artist are notable in pieces. Pollock did not plan the outcome of his paintings like many artists do when creating their art (Hunter, Pollock, & Karpel, 1956). Abstract expressionism applies a direct method where the painter follows the immediate thoughts and emotions. Pollock created his paintings with exact colors and lines, applying careful movement. The paintings appear accidental, but they need careful control, a mastery Pollock was good at with his work. One of his signature pieces is the mural, his most extensive work. The mural defines the limits of Pollock’s abilities and the possibilities of paintings. The innovation with the painting shaped a new direction for artists since he combined the abstract style and easel painting method with the traditional mural. It is one of the significant works of abstract expressionism, with its colors and lines that are unique and awe-inspiring.
(Fig. 1).
The paintings by Pollock indicate the use of the unconscious mind. Pollock also painted the teacup collection and convergence (Hunter, Pollock, & Karpel, 1956). The teacup collection is a piece many can relate to since taking tea is a social activity and solitary ritual. The painting focus on an integral part of people’s daily lives. Pollock used colors to portray the essence of taking tea in with company but ascribed individual identities to the participants partaking in the tea. The use of varying shades adds depth to the piece of art. The piece has fewer curves and more angular lines, making it stand out. Convergence was the embodiment of freedom of expression and free speech. In this painting, Pollock rebelled against the constraints of societal expression since he created it at a rough political time. The piece is a collage of colors splashed on a canvas creating masterful lines and shapes that attack the eye and evoke emotions. It portrayed all that America stands for wrapped up in a mess. The abstract work is tough to decipher, but it depicts an expression of freedom and the painter’s rebellious nature.
(Fig. 2).
(Fig. 3).
Abstract expressionism focused on making abstract art that was expressive in its effect on people. Looking at the works of Pollock, it is evident that his paintings were different and broke traditional art concepts. The creations were from the unconscious mind and portrayed the thoughts and emotions of the painter. Pollock was a revolutionary painter who moved away from traditional art concepts and painted with unconventional materials to express art abstractly. The use of paint on a horizontal canvas helped portray thoughts and emotions. The pieces of art like the mural, the teacup collection, and the convergence are some of Pollock’s works that portray abstract expressionism. The inspiration to create abstract art influenced the abstract expressionism movement and brought a change in the art world. The impact of the movement is evident in modern-day art.
References
Doss, E. (1995). Benton, Pollock, and the politics of modernism: from regionalism to abstract expressionism. University of Chicago Press.
Emmerling, L. (2003). Pollock. Taschen.
Hunter, S., Pollock, J., & Karpel, B. (1956). Jackson Pollock. The Bulletin of the Museum of Modern Art, 24(2), 3–36.
Appendix
Fig. 1. Jackson Pollock, Mural, oil paint on linen, 1943.
Fig. 2. Jackson Pollock, The teacup, oil on canvas, 1946.
Fig. 3. Jackson Pollock, Convergence, oil on canvas, 1952.
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