11.3 Post-War European Art: Art Informel and CoBrA

After World War II, European artists sought new ways to express the trauma and uncertainty of the era. Art Informel and CoBrA emerged as powerful movements, rejecting traditional forms and embracing spontaneity and raw emotion in their work.

These movements shared similarities with American Abstract Expressionism but had distinct characteristics. They used unconventional materials, drew inspiration from primitive art, and welcomed more diverse voices, shaping the future of European art.

Art Informel and CoBrA Characteristics

Art Informel (Tachisme or Lyrical Abstraction)

• Emerged in Europe after World War II as a spontaneous, gestural style of abstract painting
• Emphasized the artist's subjective expression and intuition
• Term "Art Informel" coined by French critic Michel Tapié in 1951 to describe the informal, unstructured nature of the artworks
• Featured loose brushwork, drips, and splatters
• Key artists: Jean Fautrier, Hans Hartung, Georges Mathieu, and Wols (Alfred Otto Wolfgang Schulze), each developing their own unique approaches

CoBrA Movement

• Short-lived but influential avant-garde movement (1948-1951)
• Acronym for Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam
• Artists sought to create a spontaneous, expressive art
• Drew inspiration from primitive and folk art, as well as the art of children and the mentally ill
• Key artists: Asger Jorn, Karel Appel, and Pierre Alechinsky

Shared Characteristics

• Rejected the rationality and formalism of geometric abstraction
• Favored a more intuitive, emotionally charged approach to art-making
• Emphasized the creative process over the final product
• Incorporated unconventional materials (sand, tar, plaster) to create heavily textured, tactile surfaces

Art Informel vs CoBrA vs Abstract Expressionism

Similarities

• Emerged in the post-war period
• Shared a focus on spontaneous, gestural abstraction
• Expressed the artist's inner world

Differences

• Scale: American Abstract Expressionists often worked on large-scale canvases, while Art Informel and CoBrA artists generally worked on smaller scales
• Materials and techniques: Art Informel and CoBrA artists experimented with a wider range of materials and techniques
• Inspiration: CoBrA artists drew inspiration from primitive and folk art, incorporating bold colors, distorted forms, and childlike imagery; American Abstract Expressionists focused more on formal properties of color, line, and composition
• Gender inclusivity: Art Informel and CoBrA were more collaborative and inclusive movements that welcomed female artists; American Abstract Expressionism often associated with the concept of the "heroic" male artist

Context for Post-War European Art

Impact of World War II

• Devastation and trauma profoundly impacted European artists
• Artists sought to create a new form of art expressing the existential angst and uncertainty of the post-war period
• Legacy of Surrealism, with its emphasis on automatism and exploration of the unconscious mind, shaped artistic practices

Philosophical Influences

• Rise of existentialism and phenomenology (Jean-Paul Sartre, Maurice Merleau-Ponty)
• Emphasized subjectivity and the primacy of individual experience

Political and Cultural Climate

• Cold War tensions and the threat of nuclear annihilation contributed to anxiety and alienation
• Renewed interest in primitivism and the art of non-Western cultures influenced CoBrA artists' embrace of folk art and rejection of Western artistic traditions

Significance of Art Informel and CoBrA

Breaking from Tradition

• Represented a radical break from geometric abstraction and rationalism that dominated pre-war European art
• Paved the way for a new era of expressive, gestural abstraction
• Challenged traditional notions of artistic skill and craftsmanship, emphasizing spontaneity, intuition, and the creative process

Influence on Subsequent Art Movements

• Precursor to the rise of Neo-Expressionism and other postmodern art movements in the latter half of the 20th century
• Played a crucial role in the development of post-war European art, influencing subsequent generations of artists
• Shaped the discourse around abstraction and expression

Globalization of the Art World

• CoBrA movement's collaborative and international nature (artists from Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands) foreshadowed the globalization of the art world
• Highlighted the increasing importance of transnational artistic exchanges in the post-war period