Abstract Expressionism was a major art movement that developed in New York City in the 1940s-1950s. It was characterized by large-scale paintings expressing emotion and the unconscious mind through abstract, non-representational forms. Two main types emerged - action painting, which used splattered and dripped paint, and color field painting, which used blocks of solid color. Major artists included Jackson Pollock, known for his drip paintings, Mark Rothko who used large areas of blended color, and Willem de Kooning who painted with aggressive brush strokes.
3. Styles of Abstract Expressionism
• Very diverse movement
• Included paintings, photography, drawings
and sculpture
• 2 main types: color field and action
painting
6. But both had something in
common…
• Expression of emotion and the
unconscious
• Large scale (huge) paintings
• Did not really represent any real objects
7. 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
9. What led to Abstract
Expressionism?
• Many of A.E. artists matured during 1930’s
• Works progress Administration (WPA)
• Painted figurative/landscapes
10. 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
11. Social Realism and Regionalism
• Many A.E painters started off painting with
this style (size)
19. Early in his career…
• Worked for Federal arts program
• Studied under Arshile Gorsky
• Early paintings were landscapes/
cityscapes
20. Painting Style
• Used large blocks of solid color
• Often blended them together
• Achieved style by applying many layers of
thin paint
• Large scale paintings
21. Later Life…
• Goes into depression later on in life
• Switches to a cool color pallet
• Dies of overdose on depression meds
24. 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
25. Painting Style
• Developed tastes from Japanese
calligraphy
• Large rapid brush strokes
• Black and White
26. Later on in life…
• goes more into color after WWII
• Premature death in 1962 from heart
condition
30. Willem de Kooning
• Lived from 1904-1997
• Acton Painter
• “Flesh was the
reason oil paint was
invented.”
31. Painting Style
• Showed aggression through application of
paint
• Used spontaneous brush stokes
• Created emotionally intense imagery
• Best known for his “Women” series
32. • Woman V, 1952-3
• Woman III, 1953
• Woman, I (1950-52)
