Abstract Express Intro New
- 1. A B S T R A C T E X P R E S S I ONI S M OVERVIEW American Art Since 1945 GORKY POLLOCK DE KOONING KRASNER KLINE ROTHKO NEWMAN STILL MOTHERWELL FRANKENTHALER
- 2. CONTEXT: Why to NEW YORK? WW II threw Europe into chaos. Many artists (incl. Leger, Mondrian) fled Europe to escape being drafted or persecuted and settled in America. They favoured New York, which eclipsed Paris as the Art capital of the world during the 1940’s. American artists and European immigrants worked together, and the cross-fertilisation of ideas produced innovative and often personally intense artworks. De Kooning, Gorky, Rothko moved to America from Holland, Armenia and Russia respectively in 20’s/30’s.
- 3. Abstract Expressionism (1940-1955) Now considered to be the first American artistic movement of international importance, the term was originally used to describe the work of Willem De Kooning, Jackson Pollock and Arshile Gorky. Held prominence until the developent of Pop Art in the 1960’s. Photo includes artists: Gorky, Gottlieb, Hofmann, Kline, de Kooning, Krasner, Motherwell, Newman, Pollock, Reinhardt, Rothko, Still, Tworkov. Critics: Clement Greenberg and Harold Rosenberg. Abstract Expressionism is also known as the New York School because of the locality of the artists.
- 4. Abstract Expressionism Action Painting Colour Field Painting Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, Lee Krasner Stressed the physical action involved in painting. The artist’s conscience. Mark Rothko, Robert Motherwell, Barnet Newman, Clifford Still, Primarily concerned with exploring the effects of colour on the canvas. Being more art conscious. COPY THIS DIAGRAM INTO YOUR NOTES
- 5. Notice the names on the exhibition flyer? This show has been lauded as the pinnacle point for American Modernism. Why do you think so?
- 6. As mentioned, artists such as Piet Mondrian, Fernand Leger, Marcel Duchamp, and Hans Hoffman migrated to America. Why would they go there? Broadway Boogie Woogie Piet Mondrian 1942-43. Fernand Leger 1944, Three Musicians Marcel Duchamp Nude Descending a Staircase 1912
- 7. Besides important artists, there was the opening of Art Galleries and the subsequent exhibitions. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), est. 1929. Key exhibitions for the Ab Ex artists were Cubism and Abstract Art (1936), Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism (1936–37)
- 8. This is an art work created by artist Steve Wolfe from 1997 based on an original exhibition catalogue from the exhibition at MoMA. The show was originally put together by Alfred Barr Jr., he created this diagram for the original catalogue. Describe the relationships that Barr has created.
- 9. Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism , The Museum of Modern Art’s first exhibition to focus on Dada, was organized by founding director Alfred H. Barr, Jr., in 1936.
- 10. Dada ready-made sculpture The Fountain (1917) by Duchamp Surrealist painting This is not a pipe (1928-9) by Rene Magritte.
- 11. WPA Federal Art Project : Context Benefactors: * WPA (work progress administration) An extensive and influential visual art project conceived during the Depression of the 1930s by the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the fall of 1935 a range of creative projects were organized to preserve the skills of professional artists in mural, easel, sculpture, and graphic art divisions. Employed artists with a wide range of experience and styles, sponsored experimental art practice, effecting a great influence on American Art movements. First major attempt at government patronage. Pollock, Kline, De Kooning, Rothko…