ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM Late 1940s- Early 1950s 1

ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM Was about the active process of creating art, not just the final product. Abstract Expressionist relied on instinct to shape works of art not only irrational but were, at their core, unpremeditated accidents 2

ARSHILE GORKY Painter freely brushed washes of glowing color inside clearly outlined biomorphic shapes. He favored oval splotches of flowing primary colors. 3

Water of the Flowery Hill by Gorky 4

JACKSON POLLOCK Abandoned the paintbrush altogether, sloshing, pouring and dripping commercial paints onto a vast roll of canvas on the floor. 5

JACKSON POLLOCK The image of Pollack is of a man possessed by his own subconscious as he flung and slung skeins of paint in an all over configuration. Throwing out in the process such conventional artistic considerations like foreground, background, focal point and perspective. 6

JACKSON POLLOCK Video of Pollock working 7

Autumn Rhythm by Pollock 8

Number 8 by Pollock 9

Convergence by Pollock 10

WILLEM DE KOONING Classically trained with an ability to draw like Ingres (hey! Remember him?!) In 1948 he developed his slashing brush style He kept his interest in the human figure and is known for a series of “Woman” paintings. Which he compared to the Venus of Willendorf (hey! Remember that?!) 11

WILLEM DE KOONING His canvases look raw and unfinished, but de Kooning constantly reworked them in his trademark yellow, pink and buff colors. 12

Woman I by de Kooning 13

FRANZ KLINE Began to paint abstractly after viewing his sketches blown up on a wall with a slide projector. He was overwhelmed by these and began to paint with large housepainters brushes on white canvases. 14

Mahoning by Kline 15