Abstract Art - Painting

Abstract Art, as it is considered in the modern era, is a movement that finds its roots in Romanticism, Impressionism, and Expressionism. In the late 19th century, artists were beginning to believe that a break needed to be made from the rigid logic of perspective and the ideal of a perfectly rendered image of reality.

Abstract Art, particularly in painting, seeks to break with the traditional modes of expression in art. Rather than seeking to make direct reference to the physical world, formally or informally, abstract artists seek to use form, line and color to render an image without reference to the external world. Jackson Pollack, one of the most famous abstract painters of the last century, held that the physical act of placing paint on the canvas, sometimes violently, was the key to abstract painting. This method, sometimes referred to as action-painting, was not necessarily the most dominant, but probably is the most well-known of Abstract Art methods.

Assigning meaning to Abstract Art has been a struggle for the artistic community. As the work is inherently non-representational, the traditional modes of interpretation fall short. The work cannot be analyzed with reference to its depiction of reality. Some hold that the work is self-referential and attempts to superimpose external references undermine the purpose. Others believe that the work should be seen in terms of abstract topics: such as time or infinity.

Abstract Art is primarily a twentieth century phenomenon, though it still exerts considerable influence to this day.