Modern Art

ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM

   Abstract expressionism is very ryhtmetic. It displays fixed attention on the actions and gestures of the artist. Thus giving off a universal experience with energy and emotion, absence of subject matter. After world war 2 many American artists united in the belief of power of abstract art to express convictions and profound human values in politics, and the belief in art grounded in personal experience. This new art put New York City at the top of modern art world during the 1940-1950s. Jackson Pollock created many beautiful compositions by painting with hardened brushes and contorting his body around the canvas on the floor. Thus allowing the paint to drip down in splatters and puddles tracing his movements. Pollocks unique process has been compared to choreography because his paintings depicts the movements of a dance. Pollocks process of working on the floor allows him to literally work from all sides and be in the painting. The painting below called One done in oil and enamel paint on canvas is absolutely stunning. A master of this drip technique the painting is done with such a energy that you can feel the force and speed and aggressive brush strokes, while still remaining beautiful and graceful. The main concepts of the piece below are the diversity of colors, the abstract forms and the profound emotion with the vigorous brush strokes.

Cubism Art

   Cubism Art breaks down the world into geometric shapes and sizes and was a new approach to representing the reality. A visual language of geometric planes in compressed spaces consisting of traditional subjects, nudes, and landscapes. Invented by the great Pablo Picasso and another artist or 2. This style took subjects depicting of real life interactions and broke them down to appear fragmented and abstracted. By breaking down the objects and figures the artist wanted to show different viewpoints within the same space to depict three dimensional form while emphasizing  the two dimensional form.  Pablo Picasso was a master at all the above while also being influenced by African art. Especially African tribal masks, which are non realistic but present a vivid human image. The piece below by Pablo Picasso called Night Fishing at Antibes. This painting shows a fishing scene in a constructed space that consists of real life depictions broken down into geometric shapes and sizes. Clearly done in a distorted way as you can see people but their faces and body's that almost depict African art show this unique style that Picasso mastered. Also the moon has its own unique make up of shapes and forms as well as the fish and the beautiful women drinking and watching on the right.