abstract expressionism

Abstract expressionism was first used in Germany in connection with Russian artist Kandinsky in 1919. It later became commonly associated with post WWI American art and was influenced by surrealism an cubism. The first major American art movement.
There were two major groups within expressionism

Colour field painter:-
Artists used to search for a style of abstraction that might provide a modern, mythic art and express it. To achieve this they abandoned all suggestions of figuration and instead exploited the expressive power of color by deploying it in large fields that might envelope the viewer when seen at close quarters.

Gestural painters:-
This is where artists used to be energetic and expressive when doing brushstrokes deliberately emphasizing the sweep of the painter's arm or movement of the hand. Therfore, paintings will expresses the artist's emotions and personality just like a person's gestures reflect their feelings in everyday life. Gesturalism also emphasizes the physical act of painting itself, drawing attention to the "process of creating".

Artists don't give their work a name as it gives/shows an image the vast majority number them.
Also the canvas' started to get bigger

Arshile gorky-1904-1948
Gorky was one of the most powerful American painters of the twentieth century,
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looks automatic painting

Jackson Pollock
1912-1967
main name associated with abstract impressionism
first major art star
article on internet... and video on youtube
fluid movement to create his work.
had a wife whos an artist and supported him with his work

direct painting on floor,large canvas, uses a stick, sand broken glass string
express feelings


Willem de kooning
1904-1997
dutch artist
painted figurative abstract
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Robert Motherwell
1915-1991
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Franz kline
1910-1962
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Mark Rothko
1903-1970
jewish artist but American
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Hans Hofmann
1880-1966

Bernett Newman 1905-1970
zips
colourist and abstraction
structured composition to destroy or omform omposition rules

clyfford still 1904-1980







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