Abstract art
Abstract art can be a painting or sculpture (including assemblage) that does not depict a person, place or thing in the natural world -- even in an extremely distorted or exaggerated way. Therefore, the subject of the work is based on what you see: color, shapes, brushstrokes, size, scale and, in some cases, the process. Abstract art began in 1911 with such works as Picture with a Circle (1911) by the Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944).
Kandinsky believed that colors provoke emotions.
The term 'abstract art' - also called "non-objective art", "non-figurative", "non-representational", "geometric abstraction", or "concrete art" - is a rather vague umbrella term for any painting or sculpture which does not portray recognizable objects or scenes. However, as we shall see, there is no clear consensus on the definition, types or aesthetic significance of abstract art. Picasso thought that there was no such thing, while some art critics take the view that all art is abstract - because, for instance, no painting can hope to be more than a crude summary (abstraction) of what the painter sees. Even mainstream commentators sometimes disagree over whether a canvas should be labelled "expressionist" or "abstract" - take for example the watercolour Ship on Fire (1830, Tate), and the oil painting Snow Storm - Steam Boat off a Harbour's Mouth (1842, Tate), both by JMW Turner (1775-1851). A similar example is Water-Lilies (1916-20, National Gallery, London) by Claude Monet (1840-1926). Also, there is a sliding scale of abstraction: from semi-abstract to wholly abstract. So even though the theory is relatively clear - abstract art is detached from reality - the practical task of separating abstract from non-abstract can be much more problematical.
Types of Abstract Art
• Curvilinear
This type of curvilinear abstraction is strongly associated with Celtic Art, which employed a range of abstract motifs including knots (eight basic types), interlace patterns, and spirals (including the triskele, or the triskelion).
• Colour-Related or Light-Related
This uses colour (or light) in such a way as to detach the work of art from reality, as the object dissolves in a swirl of pigment.
• Geometric
This type of intellectual abstract art emerged from about 1908 onwards. An early rudimentary form was Cubism, specifically analytical Cubism - which rejected linear perspective and the illusion of spatial depth in a painting, in order to focus on its 2-D aspects. Geometric Abstraction is also known as Concrete Art and Non-Objective Art. As you might expect, it is characterized by non-naturalistic imagery, typically geometrical shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, and so forth.
• Emotional or intuitional
This type of intuitional art embraces a mix of styles, whose common theme is a naturalistic tendency. This naturalism is visible in the type of shapes and colours employed. Unlike Geometric Abstraction, which is almost anti-nature, intuitional abstraction often evokes nature, but in less representational ways. Two important sources for this type of abstract art are: Organic Abstraction (also called Biomorphic abstraction) and Surrealism.
• Gestural
This is a form of abstract expressionism, where the process of making the painting becomes more important than usual. Paint may be applied in unusual ways, brushwork is often very loose, and rapid.
• Minimalist
This is a form of abstract expressionism, where the process of making the painting becomes more important than usual. Paint may be applied in unusual ways, brushwork is often very loose, and rapid.
Some of these types are less abstract than others, but all are concerned with separating art from reality.
Origins and History
Stone Age Abstract Paintings
As far as we can tell, abstract art first began some 70,000 years ago with prehistoric engravings: namely, two pieces of rock engraved with abstract geometric patterns, found in the Blombos Cave in South Africa. This was followed by the abstract red-ochre dots and hand stencils discovered among the El Castillo Cave paintings, dated to 39,000 BCE, the Neanderthal engraving at Gorham's Cave, Gibraltar, and the club-shaped claviform image among the Altamira Cave paintings (c.34,000 BCE). Thereafter, abstract symbols became the predominant form of Paleolithic cave art, outnumbering figurative images by 2:1.
Collections of Abstract Art
Non-representational art can be seen in most of the best art museums around the world. Notable collections are held by the following institutions
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York.
• Samuel R Guggenheim Museum, New York.
• Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY.
• Tate Gallery, London.
• Georges Pompidou Centre, Paris.
• Guggenheim Bilbao.
• Guggenheim Venice.
• Kunstmuseum, Basel.
Top 20 Abstract Painters
Here is a list of selected abstract artists who have made a significant contribution to the evolution and development of non-representational art.
• JMW Turner (1775-1851)
English painter whose avant-garde expressionism developed into abstraction.
• James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
American painter, noted for semi-abstract tonal paintings.
• Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
His still life's and landscapes are seen as important prototypes for abstraction.
• Paul Serusier (1864-1927)
Leader of Les Nabis, influenced by Gauguin.
• Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944)
One of the earliest pioneers of geometric abstraction.
• Georges Vantongerloo (1866-1965)
Belgian member of De Stijl, noted for his Elementarist painting.
• Henri Matisse (1869-1954)
One of the pioneer colour-related abstract painters.
• Lyonel Feininger (1871-1956)
Used Cubist methods to imply religious feeling.
• Frank Kupka (1871-1957)
Czech painter, "colour symphonist", influenced by Futurism & Orphism.
• Giacomo Balla (1871-1958)
Italian Futurist painter, fascinated by modern technology & movement.
• Piet Mondrian (1872-1944)
Geometric painter, member of De Stijl movement, inventor of Neo-Plasticism.
• Bart Van Der Leck (1876-1958)
Utrecht artist/designer, one of founders of De Stijl.
• Marsden Hartley (1877-1943)
One of the great early American modernists.
• Kasimir Malevich (1878-1935)
A pioneer geometric abstractionist, inventor of Suprematism.
• Louis Marcoussis (1878-1941)
Polish-French colourful Cubist painter, born Ludwig Markus.
• Paul Klee (1879-1940)
Swiss fantasy artist.
• Francis Picabia (1879-1953)
French painter with private income; Cubist, Dadaist, Surrealist.
• Franz Marc (1880-1916)
Co-founder of Der Blaue Reiter. His animal images verge on abstraction.
• Patrick Henry Bruce (1880-1937)
Friend of Delaunay, associated with the Synchromists style of abstraction.
• Arthur Dove (1880-1946)
Painter/illustrator. His 1912 solo show was first showing of abstract art in US.
Kandinsky believed that colors provoke emotions.
The term 'abstract art' - also called "non-objective art", "non-figurative", "non-representational", "geometric abstraction", or "concrete art" - is a rather vague umbrella term for any painting or sculpture which does not portray recognizable objects or scenes. However, as we shall see, there is no clear consensus on the definition, types or aesthetic significance of abstract art. Picasso thought that there was no such thing, while some art critics take the view that all art is abstract - because, for instance, no painting can hope to be more than a crude summary (abstraction) of what the painter sees. Even mainstream commentators sometimes disagree over whether a canvas should be labelled "expressionist" or "abstract" - take for example the watercolour Ship on Fire (1830, Tate), and the oil painting Snow Storm - Steam Boat off a Harbour's Mouth (1842, Tate), both by JMW Turner (1775-1851). A similar example is Water-Lilies (1916-20, National Gallery, London) by Claude Monet (1840-1926). Also, there is a sliding scale of abstraction: from semi-abstract to wholly abstract. So even though the theory is relatively clear - abstract art is detached from reality - the practical task of separating abstract from non-abstract can be much more problematical.
Types of Abstract Art
• Curvilinear
This type of curvilinear abstraction is strongly associated with Celtic Art, which employed a range of abstract motifs including knots (eight basic types), interlace patterns, and spirals (including the triskele, or the triskelion).
• Colour-Related or Light-Related
This uses colour (or light) in such a way as to detach the work of art from reality, as the object dissolves in a swirl of pigment.
• Geometric
This type of intellectual abstract art emerged from about 1908 onwards. An early rudimentary form was Cubism, specifically analytical Cubism - which rejected linear perspective and the illusion of spatial depth in a painting, in order to focus on its 2-D aspects. Geometric Abstraction is also known as Concrete Art and Non-Objective Art. As you might expect, it is characterized by non-naturalistic imagery, typically geometrical shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, and so forth.
• Emotional or intuitional
This type of intuitional art embraces a mix of styles, whose common theme is a naturalistic tendency. This naturalism is visible in the type of shapes and colours employed. Unlike Geometric Abstraction, which is almost anti-nature, intuitional abstraction often evokes nature, but in less representational ways. Two important sources for this type of abstract art are: Organic Abstraction (also called Biomorphic abstraction) and Surrealism.
• Gestural
This is a form of abstract expressionism, where the process of making the painting becomes more important than usual. Paint may be applied in unusual ways, brushwork is often very loose, and rapid.
• Minimalist
This is a form of abstract expressionism, where the process of making the painting becomes more important than usual. Paint may be applied in unusual ways, brushwork is often very loose, and rapid.
Some of these types are less abstract than others, but all are concerned with separating art from reality.
Origins and History
Stone Age Abstract Paintings
As far as we can tell, abstract art first began some 70,000 years ago with prehistoric engravings: namely, two pieces of rock engraved with abstract geometric patterns, found in the Blombos Cave in South Africa. This was followed by the abstract red-ochre dots and hand stencils discovered among the El Castillo Cave paintings, dated to 39,000 BCE, the Neanderthal engraving at Gorham's Cave, Gibraltar, and the club-shaped claviform image among the Altamira Cave paintings (c.34,000 BCE). Thereafter, abstract symbols became the predominant form of Paleolithic cave art, outnumbering figurative images by 2:1.
Collections of Abstract Art
Non-representational art can be seen in most of the best art museums around the world. Notable collections are held by the following institutions
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York.
• Samuel R Guggenheim Museum, New York.
• Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY.
• Tate Gallery, London.
• Georges Pompidou Centre, Paris.
• Guggenheim Bilbao.
• Guggenheim Venice.
• Kunstmuseum, Basel.
Top 20 Abstract Painters
Here is a list of selected abstract artists who have made a significant contribution to the evolution and development of non-representational art.
• JMW Turner (1775-1851)
English painter whose avant-garde expressionism developed into abstraction.
• James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
American painter, noted for semi-abstract tonal paintings.
• Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
His still life's and landscapes are seen as important prototypes for abstraction.
• Paul Serusier (1864-1927)
Leader of Les Nabis, influenced by Gauguin.
• Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944)
One of the earliest pioneers of geometric abstraction.
• Georges Vantongerloo (1866-1965)
Belgian member of De Stijl, noted for his Elementarist painting.
• Henri Matisse (1869-1954)
One of the pioneer colour-related abstract painters.
• Lyonel Feininger (1871-1956)
Used Cubist methods to imply religious feeling.
• Frank Kupka (1871-1957)
Czech painter, "colour symphonist", influenced by Futurism & Orphism.
• Giacomo Balla (1871-1958)
Italian Futurist painter, fascinated by modern technology & movement.
• Piet Mondrian (1872-1944)
Geometric painter, member of De Stijl movement, inventor of Neo-Plasticism.
• Bart Van Der Leck (1876-1958)
Utrecht artist/designer, one of founders of De Stijl.
• Marsden Hartley (1877-1943)
One of the great early American modernists.
• Kasimir Malevich (1878-1935)
A pioneer geometric abstractionist, inventor of Suprematism.
• Louis Marcoussis (1878-1941)
Polish-French colourful Cubist painter, born Ludwig Markus.
• Paul Klee (1879-1940)
Swiss fantasy artist.
• Francis Picabia (1879-1953)
French painter with private income; Cubist, Dadaist, Surrealist.
• Franz Marc (1880-1916)
Co-founder of Der Blaue Reiter. His animal images verge on abstraction.
• Patrick Henry Bruce (1880-1937)
Friend of Delaunay, associated with the Synchromists style of abstraction.
• Arthur Dove (1880-1946)
Painter/illustrator. His 1912 solo show was first showing of abstract art in US.