American Abstract Art

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Abstract Expressionism is considered a triumph in American Painting. It is still the most discussed and debated form of twentieth century American art, and still influences generations of artists. It used the cultural references of the tragic, the unconscious, the sublime and the primitive to create a unique and evocative style of painting that was unique in the art world. Though some may view Abstract Expressionism and Surrealism as similar, the thing that made it fundamentally different, according to Motherwell, was that the artists worked more `directly' and `violently' and on a `much larger scale physically than the surrealists ever had.' (Page 40, David and Cecil) It also seems important to Motherwell to have a style that challenges the limits. `Of course this anticipated Pollock's drip style, but only in a very limited sense, i.e., limited to arcs. By comparison, what Pollock achieved was totally different, totally free.' (Page 41, David and Cecil) Abstract Expressionist artists believed that the subconscious mind could recognise and respond to the emotions portrayed in their paintings. To aid this absorption of feeling, blocks of colour and simple forms were used extensively. `Abstract expressionism's avowed purpose is to express the self to the self.' (Page 2, David and Cecil) According to Chave, paintings such as `Untitled (Violet, Black, Orange, Yellow on White and Red)' by Rothko `metaphorically encompass' the tragic `cycle of life from cradle to grave, in part by harbouring an oblique reference to both adorations and entombments.' (http://www.guggenheimcollection.org/site/artist_work_md_138_5.html) He also suggests that this part... ... middle of paper ... ...ion, 1996. Hopkins, David; After Modern Art, 1947-2000, Oxford, 2000 Foster, Stephen C; The Critics of Abstract Expressionism, UMI Research Press, 1980. Leja, Michael; Reframing Abstract Expressionism, Yale University, New Haven and London, 1993 Robertson,Bryan; Jackson Pollock, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers, New York. O'Hara, Frank; Jackson Pollock, George Braziller, Inc, New York, 1959 Frank, Elizabeth; Jackson Pollock, Abbeville Press, New York, 1983 Arnason, H.H.; Robert Motherwell, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers, New York, 1982. Caws, Mary Anne; Robert Motherwell, With Pen and Brush, Reaktion Books, London, 2003. Doss, Erika; Twentieth Century American Art, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002 http://www.guggenheimcollection.org/site/artist_work_md_13

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