Abstract Expressionism

Abstract Expressionism is a term referred to a movement that started in the 1940s and 1950s, also sometimes referred as the New York School or, as Action Painting. The crisis of war and its results were the key to understand the concerns of the Abstract Expressionists. These young artists were concerned by man's dark side and by human irrationality and weakness, so they wanted to express their concerns in a new art. Some artists involved in this movement were Barnett Newman and Willem de Kooning, who both painted and handled art differently, but they were linked by abstraction which conveyed different emotions. This style was also noticed in the sculpture of David Smith, Ibram Lassaw and others, the photography of Aaron Siskind and painting of Mark Tobey, among other works which were of less famous artists. Early on, the Abstract Expressionists turned to primitive mythology and ancient art for inspiration some of these artists were Rothko, Pollock, Motherwell, Gottlieb, Newman, and Baziotes, who looked to ancient or primitive cultures for expression. Some characteristics of this style were unusual application of paint, dripping, smudging and by throwing lots of paint onto the canvas.  
 

 Abstract Expressionism – Art History Basics on Abstract Expressionism - Mid-1940s - Present. 2013. Abstract Expressionism – Art History Basics on Abstract Expressionism - Mid-1940s - Present. [ONLINE] Available at: http://arthistory.about.com/od/modernarthistory/a/abstract_expressionism_10one.htm. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

Abstract Expressionism | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013. Abstract Expressionism | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/abex/hd_abex.htm. [Accessed 19 May 2013].