Abstract Expressionism
The language of paint
"Abstract expressionism" refers to the non-representational use of form and color as a means of expression that emerged in America in the 1940s, largely thanks to the innovative work of Arshile Gorky. Interestingly, abstract expressionism is considered to be the first movement originating in America to have a worldwide influence. Two very different sub-categories of the movement developed: "action painting" (exemplified notably by Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock) and "color field painting," made most famous by Mark Rothko. Abstract expressionists strove to express pure emotion directly on canvas, via color and especially texture (the surface quality of the brushstroke), by embracing "accidents," and celebrating painting itself as a communicative action.
Artists featured: William Baziotes, Helen Frankenthaler, Arshile Gorky, Adolph Gottlieb, Philip Guston, Hans Hofmann, Franz Kline, Willem de Kooning, Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, Robert Motherwell, Barnett Newman, Jackson Pollock, Ad Reinhardt, Mark Rothko, David Smith, Theodoros Stamos, Clyfford Still, Mark Tobey, Bradley Walter Tomlin
About the Series:
Each book in TASCHEN's Basic Genre Series features:
- a detailed introduction with approximately 35 photographs, plus a timeline of the most important events (political, cultural, scientific, etc.) that took place during the time period
- a selection of the most important works of the epoch; each is presented on a 2-page spread with a full-page image and, on the facing page, a description/interpretation of the work and brief biography of the artist as well as additional information such as a reference work, portrait of the artist, and/or citations
About the author:
Barbara Hess studied art history and romance languages in Cologne and Florence. Based in Cologne, she is a freelance author and translator and has written extensively on modern and contemporary art for magazines including Camera Austria, Flash Art, and Texte zur Kunst.
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Abstract Expressionism
Hess, Barbara
Softcover, flaps 7.3 x 9.1 in., 96 pages, $ 9.99 |
- Reviews (1 items)
"La collana della TASCHEN dedicata ai movimenti artistici del '900 pubblica con grande acume visivo un volume che illustra e spiega L'Espressionismo astratto. Il movimento artistico americano - più un movimento creato ad arte dai critici che un sodalizio teorico artistico - che fu cerniera (e qualcosa di più) tra il Surrealismo emigrato negli Stati Uniti e la Pop Art (questa sì tutta "americana") degli anni sessanta. Barbara Hess nel suo degno saggio introduttivo, ricostruisce la storia del movimento, vigilando sia il contestoin cui si svilupparono le principali tendenze pittoriche (tra esse il dripping e il color field painting) sia gli artisti che furono maestri e caposcuola (De Kooning, Pollock, Reinhardt, Rothko): Una campionatura sorvegliata di opere con relative schede e molte riproduzioni e fotografie completano il libro e sono curate da Uta Grosenick."
Il Cittadino, Milano, Italy
Il Cittadino, Milano, Italy
- See also (4 items)
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Abstract Art Art history's most important movements and genres - The masters of abstraction |
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Willem de Kooning The leader of the abstract expressionists |
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Jackson Pollock Jackson Pollock: A tragic icon of Abstract Expressionism |