Abstract art

Abstract art is a genre of art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of visual reality. Instead, it uses shapes, colors, forms, and gestural marks to achieve its effect. This form of art emerged in the late 19th century and became a central stream of modern art in the 20th century.

History

The roots of abstract art can be traced back to the late 19th century with the works of artists like James McNeill Whistler and Claude Monet, who began to emphasize the visual sensation over the depiction of objects. The movement gained momentum in the early 20th century with the works of Wassily Kandinsky, who is often credited with creating the first purely abstract works.

Key Artists

• Wassily Kandinsky: Often considered the pioneer of abstract art, Kandinsky's works are characterized by their use of color and form to convey emotion.
• Piet Mondrian: Known for his grid-based paintings, Mondrian's work focused on the reduction of form and color to their basic elements.
• Kazimir Malevich: A leading figure in the Suprematism movement, Malevich's works are known for their geometric shapes and limited color palette.
• Jackson Pollock: A major figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement, Pollock is famous for his drip paintings.

Movements and Styles

• Cubism: Developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, Cubism broke objects into geometric shapes and reassembled them in abstract forms.
• Futurism: An Italian movement that emphasized speed, technology, and modernity, often using abstract forms to convey motion.
• Suprematism: Founded by Kazimir Malevich, this movement focused on basic geometric forms and a limited color palette.
• De Stijl: A Dutch movement led by Piet Mondrian, characterized by the use of straight lines, right angles, and primary colors.
• Abstract Expressionism: An American post-World War II movement that emphasized spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation.

Techniques

Abstract artists employ a variety of techniques to create their works, including:

• Action painting: A technique where paint is spontaneously dribbled, splashed, or smeared onto the canvas.
• Color field painting: A style characterized by large areas of a single color.
• Geometric abstraction: The use of geometric forms in a non-representational composition.
• Lyrical abstraction: A style that emphasizes personal expression and the use of color and form to convey emotion.

Influence and Legacy

Abstract art has had a profound influence on various other art movements, including Minimalism, Conceptual art, and Pop art. It has also impacted other fields such as architecture, design, and fashion.

See also

• Modern art
• Contemporary art
• Non-objective art
• Expressionism
• Surrealism