Abstract painting explained – Part 1

Abstract Painting

Abstract painting can be compared to free verse poetry or progressive jazz because it illustrates a freedom of expression in art. It cannot be confined to a type of technique although each abstract painter develops a particular technique. It expresses the subjective emotional feeling of the painter as does jazz and free verse poetry; and attempts to represent social, political, and lifestyle issues through an artistic expression rather than a written commentary.

Abstract painting thus fits into the modern world of the avant-garde. It is off-beat, far out, weird, different, etc.

When you look at abstract art you may develop your own interpretation of it which may or may not be anything like the artist intended. It may have no impact on you whatever depending on your perspective; or you may give full expression to your feelings as you look at an abstract painting.

Abstract painting began in 1910 with Pablo Picasso, the creator of Cubism. Before this time artists were still into classical art but philosophers were beginning to talk of the worth of classical art. They asked questions – Was classical art worthwhile? Picasso reflected on the philosophies and eventually developed his own art. After Picasso, came the neo-plasticism of Mondrian, which was characterized by squares and rectangles painted in the primary colors.

Picasso shared this developing abstractionism in art with two other artists – Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky.

Wassily Kandinsky wrote the famous book, Point and Line to Plane. In it he explains abstract art. ‘”In this case may be seen one of the differences between “objective” and abstract art. In the former, the sound of the element “in itself” is veiled, thrust back; when abstract, it attains its full, unveiled sound.”‘ (Kandinsky, p. 53) Here he implies the subjective reality of abstract art as opposed to objective art. Abstract art looks inward for artistic expression.

Abstract painting is spontaneous, free, unthinking. It became exclusively non-thinking with the works of Jackson Pollock. His was painting without conscious control.

The main types of abstract painting were cubism, neo-plasticism, expressionism, futurism, fauvism, and abstract expressionism.

Other elements of abstract painting are spiritualism and getting to the inner core of the being rather than concentrating on outward forms such as landscapes.

Vincent Van Gogh was getting close to abstractionistic painting when he did much of his work on the social aspects of life in factories and fields where workers did their work – probably why many people couldn’t understand where he was coming from at the time. Painters never contemplated on the human condition before. The early painters concentrated on portraits and the human figure and then during Van Gogh’s time moved into landscapes. Much of artwork was commissioned by the churches.

Vincent Van Gogh began making it personal.

Picasso’s most famous painting – the Guernica was a highly political, passionate, and emotional painting inspired by the Spanish Civil War but immediately depicting the brutal and horrific destruction of the town of Guernica by the Nazis during World War II.

Abstract painting such as this example borders on surrealism – a hugely distorted and grotesque depiction of reality.

To understand abstract painting you have to try to get into the mind of the artist and discern what he was thinking when he created his painting. It might be easier to do this if you also listen to the jazz of Miles Davis or John Coltrane. I like Sketches of Spain by Miles Davis. Or read some of the works of the beat poets – maybe the Dr. Generosity Poets.