Art Genre Paper
Peaches
University of Phoenix
March 23, 2009 MMus

Abstract Expressionism
Genre art evolved from the Dutch Baroque painters in the 17th century. The term “genre” generally refers to the pictorial representations in various media types that represent events of daily living. Such representations can be people, places, activities, parties, a building’s interior or a scenic outdoor setting. These scenes can be realistic, imagined, or even romanticized by the artist. This paper will examine abstract expressionism’s historical development and evolution of style, characteristics of the genre, influential styles or its influence on other styles, the influence of styles on three different visual or performing arts, and any significant contributions to the development and evolution of this style.
Historical Development and Evolution of Style Abstract expressionism was developed in the context of diversity and an overlapping of sources and whose major contributors came from the 1930s. During this time “The Great Depression” had begun to yield two different art movements: Regionalism and Social Realism but neither of these appealed to this group of artists. This group was seeking significant content in their work. Having broken away from accepted conventions in both technique and subject matter, these artists used work that was monumentally scaled and reared reflections of their individual psyches. Valuing spontaneity and improvisation their style separated them from the stylistic categorization that had come to engulf the art world. Despite the Abstract Expressionist desire to depict timeless and powerful subject matter, early in their work they eventually turned to primitive myth and archaic art for inspiration. Several expressionists from this group took to ancient or primitive cultures for expression. Taking their work featuring pictographic and biomorphic elements that were transformed into personal code. This group found that directness of expression was instrumental in their artwork and was actually achieved through the lack of premeditation when composing a piece. Abstract Expressionist began to ‘mature’ in their techniques and forms of creating art. In the mid-1940s a new technique for painting was developed which involved pouring and dripping thinned paint onto canvas that was on the floor. This differed from traditional techniques which utilized a paint brush to put the paint onto the canvas. These paintings were nonobjective in their content, scale, and technique and were viewed to many as shocking. After some time the artwork created by this group matured even further with regard to their color fields which used simplified, large-format, color-dominant fields to display their design. Some believed that this was done to achieve an element of impact whereas; others saw it as a way to achieve the sublime, rather than the beautiful (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000-2013).
Characteristics of Abstract Expressionism Abstract expressionism spread rapidly throughout the world on the wings of modern mass communication, originating in New York City when a number of European fled. The term “abstract expressionism” was first used by art critic Robert Coates in 1946, in reference to artists Maxim Gorky, Jackson Pollack and Willem de Kooning, all three influential artist who are considered to be abstract expressionist (Brent, 2013). However, the characteristics of what constitutes abstract expressionism is difficult to define, as these three artist, worked in very different styles. According to “perceiving the arts”, abstract expressionism is a mid-twentieth-century visual art movement characterized by non-traditional brushwork, nonrepresentational subject matter, and expressionist emotional value (Sporre, 2011, p.48). Abstract Expressionism evolved through the work of each individual artist. Willem de Kooning's paintings usually depicted a form, albeit in a highly abstract manner. However, de Kooning shared Pollock's use of vibrant colors, with wild, broad swaths of paint that seemed to be impulsively, almost violently applied to the canvass. Kooning’s paintings were also known as action paintings. Mark Rothko was initially influenced by surrealism, but by the latter part of the 1940s he developed his distinctive style. Rothko's work is instantly identifiable, as his paintings consist of large rectangles of different colors that would blend into each other. Rothko's intent was to convey emotion with the colors; by doing away with the figure entirely, the viewer's attention is focused solely on the interaction between colors and the feeling it evokes. Jackson Pollack techniques evolved during the 1940s and 1950s, but he remains most identified with his technique of dripping and pouring paint on canvasses while he laid on the floor. Pollock would also mount a canvass on a wall and fling the paint at it (Brent, 2013). The work of Jackson Pollack was often called “action painting” which conveys a sense of tremendous energy. The viewer seems to feel the painter’s motions as he applied the paint (Sporre, 2011, p.48).
Influences of the Style Abstract Expressionism has various similarities to artists of the early twentieth century and this is where much of the contributors and development of the style takes place. One can be fooled when looking at abstract expressionism due to the spontaneity or the notion of randomness characterized in many of the abstract expressionist’s pieces, nearly all of these paintings occupied careful arrangement, mostly due to the sheer size of the work. Abstract expressionism can show violence and commotion in paintings as such the works of Pollok. At the same time Abstract Expressionism can show paintings that are complete opposite with a far more subtle and clean presentations such as the works of Mark Rothko. Abstract Expressionism offers expressions of a wide range of styles and diversity that assisted with other the art continuing to grow with new painters and artist. Some of the artists that contributed with a greater effort than most to Abstract Expressionism were Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, and Emma Kunz. Even though the listed artistes contributed to the form of abstract expressionism the predecessor of the art form is surrealism. This form of art has a huge emphasis on impulsive and unsystematic creation of art. Mark Tobey an American painter used this form of art to create his paintings such as “white writings” that encompass the all over look of abstract expressionism. After 1960’s other forms of art began to appear that were influenced by Abstract Expressionism. Those forms of art were Abstract Painting, Hard Edge Painting, Geometric Expressionism and, Lyrical Abstraction. These forms of art appeared because of the common reactions of subjectivism of Abstract Expressionism. The artists no longer wanting their art to be subjective but they were looking for a new radical way to showcase the paintings thus a new form of art was created based on Abstract Expressionism. These transitions to a new form of artwork appear to be a hit as it was showcased in museums across the Unites States. Most of the new generation of paintings was showcased in museums across New York in order to gain momentum but soon the works of art were being seen across the country.
Influences of Abstract Expressionism on Art Abstract expressionism started as the first form of two dimensional art solely developed in the United States where most forms prior to this were from Europe. This form of art was initiated shortly after the World War. The genre is characterized by non-traditional use of brush work. The art is non-representational allows the artist to reflect an inner beauty that is very expressive rather than try to be realistic. In two dimensional arts, new techniques such as action painting in which paint is dripped, drizzled, splattered, or smeared which are considered gestural (Sporre, 2011). Colour field is another style of abstract expressionism has no reference point and the emphasis is on color. The use of these techniques helps create a high energy feel and helps with the flow of motion. Because of expressionism is a new art form it took techniques from other genre such as Cubism and Surrealism and is not totally abstract or expressionistic (Macmillan 2013). Since these forms are non-representational many people who come to see an exhibit will either like what they see at face value or not get the art form coming away disappointed. The development of abstract expressionism shows a progression in how our society has changed to more freely express ideas in an artistic way as symbols are an easy way to communicate ideas leading to changes in the fundamentals of current art. As with two dimensional arts, abstract expressionism had an effect of dance. Modern dance also started in the United States and influenced European dance post world war. Prior to the late nineteenth century ballet was regimented and had strict rules. This confined the ability of chorographers to communicate the story. As with painting abstract expressionism in dance is highly individualized, spontaneous, and has no code standards each presentation has its own rules. The body is used differently in modern dance movements are angular and free. The floor becomes part of the dance and can be rolled on. There are no special shoes required most modern dance is barefoot. Clothing is used as a prop and an extension of the body. The shift in style created a change in ballet adding to the way ballet is performed. Modern dance includes forms that do not require music to move forward. Modern has affected other forms of dance such as those of Northern India and Pakistan (Sporre, 2011). As with painting, abstract expressionism allows for release of high energy movement in dance. Abstract expressionism has continued into architecture in the same way as it has dance and two dimensional arts. It is individualist; it affects the texture, space, line, and proportions of a structure. It uses materials such as glass in unusual ways. Instead of being purely purposeful the structure is representative of art and social identity. Abstract expressionism also changed the way line, and colors are used, this is seen in the Guggenheim museum in New York done by Frank Lloyd Wright (Sporre, 2011. Many of the changes followed into later forms of architecture such as post modernism. Structures are less linear and have a more fluid flow.
Conclusion
In conclusion, abstract expressionism has absolute individuality of expression and the freedom to pursue irrationality. In an abstract painting, ideas, emotions, and visual sensations are communicated solely through lines, shapes, colours, and textures that have no representational significance. The subject of an abstract painting may be therefore a proposition about the creative painting process itself or exclusively about the formal elements of painting, demonstrating the behavior of juxtaposed colours and shapes and the movements and tensions between them, their optical metamorphosis and spatial ambiguities (painting, 2013). What united the abstract expressionists wasn't a set of rules or characteristics, but rather a philosophy that placed an emphasis on the act of creating art, not the finished artwork itself. Another commonality in abstract expressionism was the artists' desire to use art as a way to express the subconscious (Brent, 2013).Today art historians feel that emphasis on abstract expressionism brings on control versus chance. Abstract expressionism continues to spread rapidly throughout the world using nonfigurative artwork to expand and colors or shapes not only to portray a painting, but to express the actual emotions involved within the artwork.

References:
Sporre, D. J. (2011). Perceiving the arts: An introduction to the humanities (10th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall
Painting. (2013). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/438588/painting
Brent, M. (2013). Demand Media, Inc. The Characteristics of Abstract Expressionism Art. EHow. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_8571804_characteristics-abstract-expressionism-art.html
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (2000-2013). Abstract Expressioniam. Retrieved from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/abex/hd_abex.htm
Abstract Expressionism." The Macmillan Encyclopedia. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2003. Credo Reference. 15 Aug. 2003. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. .e