Abstract Expressionism; an early 20th century style of art is a movement in which was present during 1940's-1950's. This was the time of post world war two in which soldiers were returning home to settle for more local and peaceful jobs. The term Abstract Expressionism was first introduced in germany in 1919 with reference to the Russian painter; Wassily Kandinsky. It was only later on that it became more commonly associated with post world war II American art. The movement and style itself is also know as and refered to as Action painting due to the spontaneous use of paint and techniques.
Abstract Expressionism was the first specific American art movement to achieve a world wide influence. It was also the movement that put New York City at the centre of the art industry world, a role that was filled by Paris before hand. During the 1930's, just before the establishment of Abstract Expressionism, Europe's political instability brought several leasing Surrealists to New York City, with many of the Abstract Expressionists being influenced by the style and interests of the time. It encouraged their interest and belief in myth and shaped their understanding of painting as a separation between self-expression and the chaos. By the late 1940's, many of the needed factors to form a new art movement were in place. In 1947, Jackson Pollock had found a new way to the drip technique, in 1948 De Kooning had a show at the Charles Egan Gallery, Barnett Newman had hit his peak and Mark Rothko began painting with multiple forms that lead to his major works and eighteen similar minded artists were a part of an exhibition of contemporary art at the Metropolitan Museum. This was the time when the movement gained its identify and purpose. Abstract Expressionism itself evolved though the work of each artist that had ever attempted the style or put his or her own twist to it. Their painting often had shapes, lines and other non-recognisable forms as to being recognisable and obvious pictures they showed expression. The paintings were believed to show the spiritual and emotional believes of the artist through the characteristics of their art. The style has remained well into the current times with thanks to these artists. |