Abstract Expressionism

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Art characterized by the use of abstract forms and gestural brushstrokes to convey emotion and meaning, developed in the United States during the mid-20th century.

Post-WWII America: A background of the post-World War II era in America, which saw the rise of Abstract Expressionism as a response to a world in turmoil.
Modernism in Art: The emergence of modernism in art during the 20th century, which laid the groundwork for the development of Abstract Expressionism.
Surrealism: The influence of Surrealism on Abstract Expressionism, particularly in terms of its focus on the unconscious mind and dream imagery.
The New York School: A group of artists who emerged in New York in the 1940s and became known as the New York School, leaders of the Abstract Expressionist movement.
Action Painting: The technique of action painting, which involves using the physical act of painting as a means of expressing emotion and releasing energy.
Color Field Painting: Color Field Painting, a type of Abstract Expressionism that involved large areas of color, with minimal forms and shapes.
Pollock and De Kooning: An exploration of the work of Abstract Expressionist artists Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, who were among the most influential artists of the movement.
Expressionism and Abstraction: The relationship between Expressionism and Abstraction, exploring how Abstract Expressionism emerged as a synthesis of these two styles.
The Sublime: The idea of the sublime in art, which was a central focus of Abstract Expressionism, with artists aiming to evoke a sense of awe and wonder in viewers.
Gestural Abstraction: An overview of Gestural Abstraction, a form of Abstract Expressionism that involved making marks and strokes in a spontaneous, intuitive manner.
Art Criticism and Reception: How Abstract Expressionism was received by art critics and the general public, and the impact it had on art history.
Postmodernism: The role of Abstract Expressionism in the development of Postmodernism and the continued influence of the movement on contemporary art.
Action Painting: A type of Abstract Expressionism that emphasizes the physical act of painting, creating energetic and spontaneous marks on the canvas.
Color Field Painting: A type of Abstract Expressionism that focuses on large, flat, color areas, creating a contemplative or meditative effect on the viewer.
Gestural Abstraction: A type of Abstract Expressionism that emphasizes the expressive quality of gestural marks, creating a sense of movement and emotion on the canvas.
Hard-Edge Abstraction: A type of Abstract Expressionism that emphasizes geometric shapes and flat, bold colors, creating a hard-edged look on the canvas.
Minimalist Abstraction: A type of Abstract Expressionism that emphasizes simplicity, reducing the canvas to basic shapes and colors, with an emphasis on purity and clarity.
Abstract Expressionism Sculpture: A type of Abstract Expressionism that creates three-dimensional forms with abstract qualities, using various materials such as steel, wood, or stone.
"Abstract expressionism is a post–World War II art movement in American painting, developed in New York City in the 1940s."
"It was the first specifically American movement to achieve international influence and put New York at the center of the Western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris."
"The term 'abstract expressionism' was first applied to American art in 1946 by the art critic Robert Coates."
"Although the term 'abstract expressionism' was first applied to American art in 1946 by the art critic Robert Coates, it had been first used in Germany in 1919 in the magazine Der Sturm, regarding German Expressionism."
"A role formerly filled by Paris."
"In the United States, Alfred Barr was the first to use this term in 1929 in relation to works by Wassily Kandinsky."
"It was the first specifically American movement to achieve international influence."
"New York at the center of the Western art world."
"Developed in New York City in the 1940s."
"The term 'abstract expressionism' was first applied to American art in 1946 by the art critic Robert Coates, it had been first used in Germany in 1919 in the magazine Der Sturm, regarding German Expressionism."
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