Summary
Highlights
Abstract Expressionism emerged in the aftermath of World War II, a period of immense political, economic, and psychological devastation, especially with the use of atomic bombs. Unlike Dadaism which reacted to World War I with absurdity, Abstract Expressionism used abstraction to express the artist's state of mind and evoke emotional responses from viewers, moving away from representational art.
Jackson Pollock revolutionized painting with his 'new techniques' that focused on the artist's inner world, moving from outer to inner expression. His method involved flinging and pouring paint onto canvases laid on the floor, creating an 'all-over' web of color without directly touching the canvas with a brush. This process-oriented approach, termed 'action painting' by Harold Rosenberg, made the act of creation as important as the finished product, akin to a performance.
Mark Rothko, another abstract expressionist, aimed to re-establish human values and convey human tragedy and emotion in his art, deeply influenced by World War II. He used large panels of color with soft, ragged edges to create immersive works meant for contemplation. Rothko wanted viewers to engage deeply with his paintings, not just observe them, fostering a sense of shared humanity, tragedy, and emotion rather than calmness.
Both Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko exemplify different, yet equally profound, responses to the horrors of World War II within the Abstract Expressionist movement. Pollock focused on the energetic process of creation, while Rothko emphasized profound emotional and tragic contemplation through color fields, both aiming to connect with the viewer on a deeply personal and universal level.