3 Art Movements and their Effects on Artistic Process

By: Dahlia Labatte

Apr 26, 2021

Action Painting

(1945 – 1960)

Action painting was a successful attempt at visually rendering the energy, movements, and occasional spontaneity of the process of creating art.

An important pillar of the action painting movement was the avoidance of a particular style. Each artist created their own stylistic signature. This added an extra emphasis on the process of creation, as opposed to finished product or subject. A good comparison would be Jackson Pollock in comparison to Helen Frankenthaler, who were both influenced by a vital part of the action painting movement and yet they each had vastly different and influential styles.

Another important aspect of action painting was the concept of a dialogue between the canvas (or surface used) and the artist. The idea that as the artist makes a mark on the canvas, that mark affects the next one. A combination of spontaneity and contemplation which eventually results in a finished story. Works could take 5 minutes or months to complete, the idea that a great piece takes time, was rejected.

A couple of my favourite artists in this movement are Helen Frankenthaler and Franz Kline.

For the artistic process, the Action Painting movement encouraged passion, a freedom of mark-making. There was no pressure of sketches or anatomically correct figures. Mediums were applied, removed, blended, splattered and smudged to the artists content. The worry of subject was removed. Artists were not aiming for perfection in their depiction of an already existing subject. Artists within the Action Painting movement had a tactile approach to painting and process. The full body was used when creating. The process was opposite to that of a realism still life painter. Life flowed from the artist to the canvas.

Helen Frankenthaler, Flirt, 1995.
© 2018 Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Franz Kline. Chief, 1950.
© 2021 The Franz Kline Estate / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Franz Kline. Chief, 1950.
© 2021 The Franz Kline Estate /
Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Colour Field Painting

(late 1940s – mid 1960s)

Similar to the Action Painting movement, the Colour Field painting movement aimed to avoid any suggestion of subject or figuration. Colour field painting was within the general abstract expressionism movement but was distinct from gestural abstraction. A good example of color field painting would be the work of Mark Rothko. The focus wasn’t on the movement, rather the focus of colour field painting was on form and composition.

Colour field painting avoided the suggestion of a subject or mass that was meant to be brought out in contrast to a background. This was done by the tendency within the style to apply colour in large fields. The canvas being treated as a field for colour and vision as opposed to a window into a particular scene in which to depict a subject.

A couple of my favourite artists in this movement are Helen Frankenthaler and Mark Rothko.

The process of Colour Field painting was related but distinctly contrasting with that of Action Painting. The process that artists in the Colour Field painting movement took part in was the exploration of their soul and mind. Paintings were made with a more gentle approach. The canvas being caressed by the artist, gently creating an image with the absence of subject. Paint applied to look as if the image extended past the borders of the canvas. Artists within this movement treated painting like a meditation. Application of colour and form was done gently, as if taking care of the canvas.

Mark Rothko. Black in Deep Red, 1957.
© 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Mark Rothko. Black in Deep Red, 1957.
© 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel & Christopher Rothko /
Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Neo-Expressionism

(late 1970s – early 1990s)

Neo-Expressionism brought focus back to the subject, the idea of which was refused by closely preceding movements such as those just mentioned (Action Painting and Colour Field Painting). It rejuvenated the idea of historical and mythological imagery, the romantic subject, while others drew upon natural and primitive imagery. Regardless, the focus was brought back to the subject. However, Neo-Expressionists depicted their subject in a more rough and brutish manner, using textural brushstrokes and intense colours, reminiscent of Action Painting though with a singularity more focused subject matter.

A couple of my favourite artists in this movement are Jean-Michel Basquiat and Georg Baselitz.

The process of Neo-Expressionists varied from artist to artist, but the interest in subject was reinvigorated. There was now the desire to produce an image, however, the traditional concept of portraiture and other subjects was changed. Throughout the painting process Neo-Expressionists applied thick, expressive brush strokes, the action of painting was approached with visual aggression. Smoothness was not desired, words and phrases were also incorporated into painting, artists often writing on the canvas.

Jean-Michel Basquiat. Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump, 1982. Acrylic on canvas, 94 ½ x 165 ⅓ in.
© Estate of Jean Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York.
Courtesy of The Brant Foundation, Greenwich, CT.

Jean-Michel Basquiat. Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump, 1982. Acrylic on canvas, 94 ½ x 165 ⅓ in.
© Estate of Jean Michel Basquiat.
Licensed by Artestar, New York.
Courtesy of The Brant Foundation, Greenwich, CT.

My Thoughts

The desire for a lack of subject is interesting to me because it eliminates a focal point. By eliminating the subject the entire painting then becomes the subject. With the lack of ‘imagery’ the entire painting then becomes the portrait. Now the artist, and arguably more important (in this situation) the viewer, now relies on unspoken aspects of the piece to come to a conclusion as to the story or emotion (if any) that it’s depicting. This adds another layer of interest when you take into account the unconscious cultural differences that could change the meaning of a painting, an example: the differences in the symbolism of the colour red in Chinese culture versus different Indigenous cultures. When it comes to the portrayal of a certain subject (I am always attracted to portraits and figures in particular), my attention moves more towards the artist and the motions they take to portray a certain subject. Portraits and figures have been drawn and painted for an immense amount of time, and so when I see a portrayal of a portrait or figure that intrigues me, it’s always worth paying attention to. The artistic process is so incredibly interesting to even think about. How each artist goes about each of their actions on a piece of work is so incredibly special.

Sources

“Action Painting Movement Overview.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/movement/action-painting/.

“Color Field Painting Movement Overview.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/movement/color-field-painting/.

“Frankenthaler Paintings, Bio, Ideas.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/artist/frankenthaler-helen.

“Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011). Leprechaun, 1991. Acrylic on: Lot #77043.” Heritage Auctions, fineart.ha.com/itm/paintings/helen-frankenthaler-1928-2011-leprechaun-1991acrylic-on-canvas34-1-2-x-57-1-2-inches-876-x-1461/a/8010-77043.s.

MacAdam, Barbara A. “Top Ten ARTnews Stories: ‘Not a Picture but an Event’.” ARTnews.com, ARTnews.com, 22 Nov. 2019, www.artnews.com/artnews/news/top-ten-artnews-stories-not-a-picture-but-an-event-181/.

Schjeldahl, Peter. “The Dark Final Years of Mark Rothko.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 9 July 2019, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/12/19/the-dark-final-years-of-mark-rothko.

Scott, Chadd. “’Immeasurable’ Impact Of Jean-Michel Basquiat On Exhibit At The Brant Foundation In New York.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 1 Apr. 2019, www.forbes.com/sites/chaddscott/2019/04/01/immeasurable-impact-of-jean-michel-basquiat-on-exhibit-at-the-brant-foundation-in-new-york/?sh=57cfd3076ec8.

Wolf, Justin. “Neo-Expressionism Movement Overview.” The Art Story, The Art Story Foundation, 6 Mar. 2021, www.theartstory.org/movement/neo-expressionism/.