What is Abstract Art?

What is Abstract Art?

Van Gogh Starry Night Before abstract art was invented, most artists painted in a realistic style. This began to change when artists such as Van Gogh and Seurat started to simplify their pictures. Seurat La Grande Jatte

Around 1900, a group of artists called the Fauvists began to simplify their shapes, and change their colors even more.

Since abstract art first appeared, many people had difficulty understanding and struggled to accept it as art. If you are one of these people don t worry. This is an attempt to explain how to understand and appreciate abstract art. Willem de Kooning, Woman V 1952-53

Looking at Abstract art is like finding images in clouds.

Understanding abstract art is in the eye and spirit of the beholder YOU Most people say that no matter what mood you re in, you can look at a piece of abstract art and still be able to relate to it in some way Everyone brings their own unique interpretation to the abstract art.

How to look at abstract art Through a simple meditative practice, the viewer (you) take an active part in creating the meaning of the artwork. Try this method Simply sit back close your eyes, relax slowly open them and just stare at the artwork. Don t think just stare stay in the present moment. Ask yourself what do you feel? Is it sad, angry, excited etc. Ask yourself why does this work make you feel this way? Is it because of the colors, lines, space, etc. Now look at it more closely, can you put a concept, story or meaning that is personal to you in this work through relating the elements of the art with your life?

What s the difference between realism and abstraction?? Realism presents the viewer an artist s interpretation or representation of the world in its complexity and simplicity. Abstraction presents the viewer an artist s reaction to the world in its complexity and simplicity.

GRADUALLY, ARTISTS THOUGHT LESS ABOUT THE SUBJECT MATTER, AND MORE ABOUT THE SHAPES AND COLORS IN THEIR PAINTINGS. Cubism began around 1910. Picasso is the most famous Cubist artist.

Some of the earliest abstract paintings were called Futurism. These paintings were about the new machines like aeroplanes, automobiles, and trains, and were an attempt to capture a feeling of movement.

Charles Demuth, I saw the figure 5 in gold, 1928

Abstract Painting really took off in the 1920's and 1930's with Kandinsky and Mondrian. This painting is by Kandinsky. It is called Yellow, Red, Blue and was painted in 1925

Let s go deeper Philosophies of Abstract Art

There are two types of Subjects used: Objective artwork with recognizable images Non-objective artwork with no recognizable images Frank Stella, (The Science of Laziness) 1984, Picasso, Head, 1960 Matisse, The Blue Nude, 1952 Autumn Rhythm (Number 30), 195

There are two main concepts of abstract art. Abstract Formalism - Relies on the formal qualities of composition and is produced with much thought and preplanning. Picasso (Cubism), Cezanne, Mondrian, Op Art Abstract Expressionism Relies heavily on emotional impact, intuition and is often spontaneous. Jackson Pollack, Jane Frank, Mark Rothko, Robert Motherwell Robert Motherwell (American, 1915 1991), Elegy to the Spanish Republic, 70, 1961 Picasso, Woman Playing Mandolin Piet Mondrian, Composition with Yellow, Blue, and Red, 1921, oil on canvas, 72.5 x 69 cm, Tate Gallery. London Jackson Pollock, "Lavender Mist" from 1950

Abstract Expressionism Significant Artists

Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) He is considered one of the inventors of abstract painting. He began painting realistic but evolved into abstract art. He believed in what he called the psychological and spiritual effects of color, developing an art form in which shapes and colors alone became the important quality. Painting should represent a mood not illustrate an object. Wassily Kandinsky, Blue Painting, 1922

This is a semi-abstract painting by Kandinsky. Some objects in it are recognisable. What can you see?

Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) Moved to New York to study at the Art Students League Worked for the Federal Art Project from 1938-1942 Invented the drip technique Artist of the most expensive painting in the world in 2006, No. 5 (1948), that sold for $140,000,000 Jackson Pollock s Blue Poles (1952)

Jackson Pollock painted huge canvasses by flicking, pouring, and dripping the paint. He was given the nickname Jack the Dripper

Franz Kline (1910-1962) Recognized as a very spontaneous painter, focusing not on figures or images, but rather on brush strokes and use of the canvas Most famous for his black and white paintings, which some say reference to Japanese calligraphy Most modern architecture is said to be modeled after Kline s works Franz Kline, Painting Number 2 (1954)

Abstract Formalism Significant Artists

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Pablo Picasso, born in Spain, was a child prodigy who was recognized as such by his art-teacher father. Recognized as the leader of Cubism. Influenced by Einstein s Theory of Relativity Wanted to truly represent 3 dimension on a 2 dimensional surface. Periods: Rose, Blue, Analytical, Synthetic Pablo Picasso, Dora Maar Au Chat, 1941

After the war New York became the Mecca of abstract art and the term Abstract Expressionist was coined to describe painters like Rothko and Pollock. Mark Rothko

Mark Rothko Although he was born in Latvia, Mark Rothko is one of the many well known American artists, for the abstract expressionist pieces that he created during the course of his career. Born in 1903, he and his family emigrated to the US when he was 10 years old. Some of the works that he is most well known for are images which featured large, and luminous color blocks. In 2014, Untitled (Yellow, Orange, Yellow, Light Orange) sold for $36.5 million in New York

Saffron, 1957 by Mark Rothko

Just as a piece of instrumental music is composed only of sounds, so an abstract painting is an attempt to convey a mood through the use of colour, shape and texture. Mark Rothko

Piet Mondrian "I wish to approach truth as closely as is possible, and therefore I abstract everything until I arrive at the fundamental quality of objects. A theorist and writer, Mondrian believed that art reflected the underlying spirituality of nature. He simplified the subjects of his paintings down to the most basic elements, in order to reveal the essence of the mystical energy in the balance of forces that governed nature and the universe.

Piet Mondrian used a process of simplification which led him to produce his famous geometric abstracts

Mondrian is famous for using primary colours, 90 angles, and thick black lines.

In the UK prominent artist's included Howard Hodgkin, Patrick Heron and later Bridget Riley with her dizzying 'Op Art' images. Bridget Riley