Abstract Expressionism was a major artistic movement that developed in New York City in the 1940s-1950s. It was characterized by very large-scale paintings done in an abstract and gestural style, often incorporating new painting techniques. Two main types emerged - action painting, which featured expressive brushwork and drips, and color field painting, which used areas of solid color. Major figures included Jackson Pollock, known for his drip paintings, Mark Rothko who created works with large blocks of color, and Willem de Kooning, who painted in an aggressive style using spontaneous brushstrokes.

1. Abstract Expressionism
By: Marisa Iafano, Paige Briggs,
and Rachel Gran

2. Abstract Expressionism
• Sometimes called the New York School
• Based in New York
• 1940s-early1960’s

3. Styles of Abstract Expressionism
• Very diverse movement
• Included paintings, photography, drawings
and sculpture
• 2 main types: color field and action
painting

4. Action Painting

5. Color Field Painting

6. But both had something in
common…
• Expression of emotion and the
unconscious
• Large scale (huge) paintings
• Did not really represent any real objects

7. How did it become popular?
• Art critics played a huge role in A.E.s
popularity
• Valisy Kandinsky gave art movement it’s
name
• Clement Greenburg was another important
critic

8. Abstractionism vs. Abstract
Expressionism

9. What led to Abstract
Expressionism?
• Many of A.E. artists matured during 1930’s
• Works progress Administration (WPA)
• Painted figurative/landscapes

10. Continued…
• Artists that fled Europe due to political
instability came to New York
• Brought over European styles of painting
• World war II and emotions behind it
inspired many paintings

11. Social Realism and Regionalism
• Many A.E painters started off painting with
this style (size)

12. Surrealism
• Inspired by spontaneity of paintings
• Inspired by the unconscious thought
process

13. Cubism and Abstractionism
• Did not paint figuratively (not always
connected to reality)- non representational

14. German Expressionism
• Expression of emotion

15. Jackson Pollock
• Lived from 1912-1956
• Action Painter

16. Painting Style
• Considered to be biggest icon of the
movement
• Used very large canvases
• Used splatter paint and drip paint
techniques

17. Autumn Rhythm, 1950
Number 1 (Lavender Mist) ,
1950

18. Mark Rothko
• Lived from 1903-1970
• Color Field Painter

19. Early in his career…
• Worked for Federal arts program
• Studied under Arshile Gorsky
• Early paintings were landscapes/
cityscapes

20. Painting Style
• Used large blocks of solid color
• Often blended them together
• Achieved style by applying many layers of
thin paint
• Large scale paintings

21. Later Life…
• Goes into depression later on in life
• Switches to a cool color pallet
• Dies of overdose on depression meds

22. • No 3, 1949

23. Franz Kline
• Lived from 1910-1962
• Action Painter

24. Early in Life
• Illustrated in high school
• Painted landscapes/cityscapes early on
• Painted many works for the Cedar Bar in
Greenwich Village, NY
• Taught at Pratt institution in Brooklyn

25. Painting Style
• Developed tastes from Japanese
calligraphy
• Large rapid brush strokes
• Black and White

26. Later on in life…
• goes more into color after WWII
• Premature death in 1962 from heart
condition

27. • Les Gros 1961

28. •Chief 1950

29. • King Oliver
1958

30. Willem de Kooning
• Lived from 1904-1997
• Acton Painter
• “Flesh was the
reason oil paint was
invented.”

31. Painting Style
• Showed aggression through application of
paint
• Used spontaneous brush stokes
• Created emotionally intense imagery
• Best known for his “Women” series

32. • Woman V, 1952-3
• Woman III, 1953
• Woman, I (1950-52)