by Alina Livneva 10 September '19 Abstract Art Definition & Examples 101

Abstract Art Paintings and Abstract Art Movements 101

Abstract art emerged at the turn of the 20th century and focused on exploring color and form, so let's try and answer what abstract art is?

Abstract Art Definition

Abstract painting is viewed as a key style contained within the Modern Art movement. Pioneered by many forward-thinking 20th-century painters and celebrated for its avant-garde aesthetic, the abstract genre represents a pivotal moment in modernism. Abstract art is a departure from reality. It releases the creative energy of people and provides them with the freedom to explore their minds and emotions in a way that was impossible in traditional styles of art. The abstract is an expression connecting the feelings and vibes. It is a different perspective than the usual perception of realism. We may define the abstract as a non-figurative art; it is not either objective or representational.

Abstract art is a product of modernity, where boundaries between reality and fantasy start to blur.

The viewer perception is one of departure from the imagery of reality. It places the mind in a continuum of energetic inflow or outflow. Some partially abstract works could keep you in the conscious realm however total abstraction has no connection to our knowledge. One could say abstract is artists drawing how they feel. It is not about making copies of real-life either about giving the impression. Depending on the artists, abstract became about the process itself.

Unlike other styles, abstract does not portray objects as they appear in real life. Before the emergence of this style, artists focused on illustrating human civilization and the world of nature. Abstract artworks experiment with the use of texture, tone, and light perception. Through abstract works, artists express their feelings rather than particular objects or scenes. Early abstraction represents movements such as:

Example: Russian-born Wassily Kandinsky initiated abstract art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Abstract art movements

Cubism - Dadaism - Surrealism - Fauvism

Before World War I, artists in Europe started creating abstraction fundamentally with no portrayal of recognizable objects. However, these initiatives got ignored by the majority of even progressive artists. During the War, two new influential schools emerged in Europe, which further promoted the development of abstraction. These schools were Dada (in Zurich) and De Stijl (in the Netherlands). In the 1950s, the development of abstract was fueled by the works of the powerful movement - Abstract Expressionism, which appeared in the United States and soon spread around the world.

Example: Abstract Expressionism New York

Other popular forms included:

Suprematism - Neo-Plasticism - Art Informel - De Stijl

It is important to note that the roots of abstraction are to be found in Post-Impressionism. The movement appeared in France before the turn of the 20th century. Early forms included illustrations of people with the use of angles and planes. One of the examples of such techniques is pointillism, where artists used points to illustrate different places and people.

Example: Pointillism