Research Point: Abstract Expressionists

Tachism/Action painting

Abstract Expressionists seem to be broadly divided into two groups; The Action Painters, including Jackson Pollock, William De Kooning and Franz Kline. Their painting are full of drama and colour, with the paint applied in an almost frenzied way on the canvas.

The other group, Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman and Clyfford Still are termed Colour Field Painters and are characterised by a more subtle approach and use of colour.

Pollock probably being the most famous of the action painters (and probably my least favourite of the group) His drip paintings earned him both criticism and fame and it is not hard to understand why. I appreciate that his technique was  bold and freeing for the time, and after experimenting with the drip technique during the course of this  module in my opinion it certainly has its merits – but for me, it is more about freeing the artist than having an emotional effect on the viewer. In fact I get more annoyed at looking at Pollocks work than anything else.  I find myself muttering ‘ This is art? I know there has to be some merit in there somewhere but it has completely escaped me.

BAL41916 Eyes in the Heat (Sounds in the Grass Series) 1946 (oil on canvas) by Pollock, Jackson (1912-56); 137.2×109.2 cm; Peggy Guggenheim Foundation, Venice, Italy; American, n copyright 

http://www.bridgemanimages.com/en-US/asset/41916/pollock-jackson-1912-56/eyes-in-the-heat-sounds-in-the-grass-series-1946-oil-on-canvas?

LEM1265847; © Leemage; FRENCH RIGHTS NOT AVAILABLE; out of copyright

 

http://www.bridgemanimages.com/en-US/asset/1265847/pollock-jackson-1912-56/composition-no-16-1948-oil-on-canvas?

Rothko, on the other hand, as I have mentioned in other areas of this blog, I feel conveys beautiful quiet emotion with his soft glazes of colour. Rothko said his paintings were about ” the basic human emotions, tradegy, ecstacy and doom”

JGG116321 Untitled, 1959 (oil on canvas) by Rothko, Mark (1903-70); 144.7×139.7 cm; Private Collection; James Goodman Gallery, New York, USA; American, in copyright
PLEASE NOTE: This image is protected by the artist’s copyright which needs to be cleared by you. If you require assistance in clearing permission we will be pleased to help you.

http://www.bridgemanimages.com/en-US/asset/116321/rothko-mark-1903-70/untitled-1959-oil-on-canvas?