11.1 Origins and Philosophy of Abstract Expressionism

Abstract Expressionism shook up the art world in post-WWII America. Artists like Pollock and Rothko broke free from traditional painting, using wild techniques to express deep emotions and ideas.

This new style put New York on the map as an art hub. Critics like Greenberg championed it as uniquely American, while artists drew inspiration from psychology, philosophy, and the chaotic post-war world.

New York School and Key Figures

Abstract Expressionist Movements and Approaches

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• New York School emerged as a collective of avant-garde artists in post-World War II America
• Action Painting emphasized spontaneous, physical application of paint to canvas
  • Jackson Pollock pioneered drip painting technique
  • Willem de Kooning created gestural, energetic compositions
• Color Field Painting focused on large areas of flat color to evoke emotional responses
  • Mark Rothko used rectangles of color to create meditative atmospheres
  • Barnett Newman employed "zips" (vertical lines) to divide color planes

Influential Critics and Theorists

• Clement Greenberg championed Abstract Expressionism as uniquely American art form
  • Emphasized formal qualities of painting (flatness, color, composition)
  • Argued for progression towards "purity" in modern art
• Harold Rosenberg coined term "Action Painting" in 1952 essay
  • Focused on act of painting as existential gesture
  • Viewed canvas as arena for artistic performance

Techniques and Styles

Experimental Approaches to Artistic Creation

• Automatism derived from Surrealist techniques to access subconscious mind
  • Artists created without conscious control or preconceived composition
  • Resulted in spontaneous, intuitive mark-making
• Gestural Abstraction emphasized expressive brushwork and dynamic compositions
  • Franz Kline created bold, black-and-white paintings resembling calligraphy
  • Robert Motherwell's "Elegy to the Spanish Republic" series combined gesture with political themes

Psychological and Philosophical Dimensions

• Subconscious Expression aimed to reveal inner psychological states
  • Artists sought to tap into universal human experiences and emotions
  • Adolph Gottlieb incorporated primitive symbols and archetypal forms
• The Sublime in Abstract Expressionism evoked feelings of awe and transcendence
  • Barnett Newman's large-scale color field paintings created immersive experiences
  • Clyfford Still's jagged forms and contrasting colors suggested cosmic landscapes

Historical Context and Influences

Post-War Cultural and Intellectual Climate

• Post-World War II Art reflected shift in global power dynamics
  • New York replaced Paris as center of Western art world
  • Abstract Expressionism viewed as embodiment of American freedom and individualism
• Existentialism influenced artists' focus on individual experience and authenticity
  • Jean-Paul Sartre's philosophy emphasized personal responsibility and freedom
  • Abstract Expressionists sought to create authentic expressions of self

Development of American Avant-garde

• American Avant-garde emerged from synthesis of European modernism and native traditions
  • Artists absorbed influences from Surrealism, Cubism, and Native American art
  • Peggy Guggenheim's Art of This Century gallery provided crucial exhibition space
• Abstract Expressionism marked first internationally recognized American art movement
  • CIA covertly promoted Abstract Expressionism as cultural weapon in Cold War
  • Movement's success paved way for subsequent American art innovations (Pop Art, Minimalism)