Abstract Expressionism: The Triumph of American Painting
Emerging in New York after WWII, Abstract Expressionism shifted the art world’s center from Paris to America. It emphasized spontaneous, subconscious creation and the physical act of painting.
Two Main Styles
- Action Painting: Focused on the gesture and movement (e.g., Jackson Pollock’s drip technique).
- Color Field Painting: Focused on large expanses of color to evoke spiritual contemplation (e.g., Mark Rothko).
Impact
It was the first specifically American movement to achieve international influence, celebrating individual freedom and raw expression.