Abstract art is an art form that uses free designs.It does not include the shapes and things of the natural world. It includes art based on geometry and a visual language of unique structures and coloured shapes.Abstract art can be completely abstract or partly abstract. Partially abstract painting has shapes that are not noticeable, however, the subject can be noticed. It is also known as a semi abstract painting. Abstract painting does not include any identifiable shapes or figures. This art mainly focuses on the imagination of the artist. Purely abstract art was based on earlier forms of modern art. Do you want to know more facts about abstract art? Keep reading. Once you have finished reading this article, you can also check out our other articles on ancient Chinese art facts and algorithmic art.Art History and ArtistsThe purest form of abstract art can be traced back to the 19th century. It is said to have originated in Europe. Abstract art may be traced back to the eighteenth century in Europe in its purest form. Only in the twentieth century, when avant-garde painters began to pay less attention to the notion of realism, did abstract painting become popular, well developed, and had a worldwide influence. The impact of the first world war and second world war on abstract painting was enormous. It spawned a new generation of abstract painters. Due to the wave of freedom, artists in the nineteenth century were allowed to freely express themselves through abstract art, pursue their passions, and gain riches in contemporary society. This had an impact on the emergence of abstract art. Several art movements like romanticism, fauvism, and futurism strengthened the roots of abstract art and emphasized the importance of imagination. Cubism is a non naturalistic art form that helped to showcase the desire to break free from familiar forms and depart from reality.Several artists like Robert Delaunay, Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, and Vladimir Tatlin took a liking to abstract art a few years prior to the world war. Some of the most famous abstract artists are as follows.Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944) is the father of abstract art. He is a Russian artist whose works are said to be the earliest form of abstract art. He played an important role in the evolution of modern art. Some of his notable pieces are Composition VII, Farbstudie Quadrate, and On White II. His wide influence on other artists is remarkable.Piet Mondrian (1872–1944) was a key figure in the development of abstract art. He experimented with a variety of realistic approaches before settling on abstract painting. In his artworks, he employed solid geometric forms and grid designs. Some of the pieces that helped him achieve the pinnacle of success are Broadway Boogie Woogie, composition with red, yellow, and blue, and Composition II in red, blue, and yellow.Mark Rothko (1903-1966) was one of the most famous abstract expressionists. By juxtaposing blocks of pure colour adjacent to each other, Rothko was able to achieve a stunning form of geometric abstraction.Willem de Kooning (1904–1997) was known for his distorted style paintings. The majority of de Kooning’s early works like Woman I (1952) and Woman III depict feminine figures in geometric motifs.Kazimir Malevich (1878–1935) was one of the few influential abstract artists from Russia. Though he was able to create some of the best abstract workpieces he still returned to the figurative art form after a while.Other artists that painted abstracts are Franz Kline, Jackson Pollock, and Helen Frankenthaler.Characteristics of Abstract ArtAccording to the Royal Academy, abstract art is distinguished by the absence of a clearly defined theme, in other words, it is a non representational art form.Unlike other art forms, abstract art lacks recognizable things such as landscapes or animals. It mostly employs geometric shapes, such as lines and cubes.Abstract art defies categorization and does not adhere to any set of norms. It is based on the artist’s thoughts and perspectives.Abstract art is at odds with Renaissance model and figurative art.In contrast to traditional and realistic art, the artist has the freedom to convey his thoughts in whatever way he wants, and the viewers have the flexibility to interpret the work in any way they like.Types of Abstract ArtThere are 18 different types of abstract art. Though all types are of equal importance, some of them like surrealism, dadaism, cubism, futurism, and fauvism are more common and are said to be some of the earliest forms.Guillaume Apollinaire coined the word “surrealism” in 1917. As the name indicated, this form of abstract art is a dreamlike reality. It employs recognizable figures in bizarre and irrational ways. This is a unique style that is marked by a sense of surprise. It is characterized by unexpected juxtapositions and non sequitur. Unexpected juxtapositions and non sequitur are prominent features. Surrealism works by delving into the subconscious mind in order to free the imaginative power of the artist.Cubism was an art movement that this art form can be seen in, especially in the works of Pablo Picasso. Cubism is often regarded as the most important artistic trend of the 20th century. Cubism mainly focuses on things that are dismantled and rebuilt. By doing so, the artist attempts to portray the topic in a wider concept from a variety of perspectives.Futurism features abstract paintings that contradict dadaism by focusing on violence. The most notable paintings of futurism were developed by Italian artists like Umberto Boccioni and Giacomo Balla. Futurism was an art movement that praised modernity. Speed, energy, and youth are some of the concepts viewed in this art form.Did you know, abstract expressionism was the first movement that brought attention to New York City and brought it to the centre of the western art world. Futurism and abstract expressionism are very similar movements. This movement quickly began after world war II.Techniques of Abstract ArtAbstract artists use several techniques to create completely abstract and partly abstract paintings. Artists like Jackson Pollock used brush strokes to splash colours onto a canvas. This was called action painting. Action painting was later used by several other artists. Others like Mark Rothko created paintings based on layering. Collage, staining, fabrication, assemblage, and printmaking are a few abstract art techniques that are widely used.Collage is a technique in which layering elements like paper are used to create two-dimensional paintings. Cubists were the first ones to use this technique. This was also used in abstract expressionism and dadaism.Helen Frankenthaler was the first one to use the soak stain method. It involves pouring paints straight into the unprimed canvas. Since the medium is not primed, the paint flows creating organic swathes of colour without the use of brushes.Fabrication involves the making of paintings using an industrial process. This method was widely adopted by minimalists.Assemblage involves the arrangement of diverse components. Here, the artists use three-dimensional objects as a base. Robert Rauschenberg has used this technique in many of his works.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for abstract art facts then why not take a look at ancient roman art facts, or ancient Greek art facts?
Abstract art is an art form that uses free designs.
