A Brief History of Abstraction Abstract definition existing

A Brief History of Abstraction • Abstract: definition • existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence. • "abstract concepts such as love or beauty" • relating to or denoting art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but rather seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, colours, and textures. • "abstract pictures“ • Conceptual • Simple To ‘abstract’ something is to simplify it, separate it, to deconstruct it to its basic elements. The art may hint at something, an atmosphere a feeling, a concept, but it does not replicate the visual reality.

Who was the first well known ‘Abstract artist? Debate … ‘Turner’ shade and Darkness – the evening of the deluge 78 x 78 cm oil on canvas Monet ‘Le pont japonais’ 1918 -24 oil on canvas 70 cm x 100 cm

Who was the first Abstract artist? Hilma af Klint, a Swedish mystic artist, is consider to be the first recorded Abstract artist – but there is no official answer Hilma af Klint 1862 -1944 Kandinsky ‘Untitled’ 1913 watercolour & Indian ink & pencil 19. 5 x 25. 5 “

Pre -faced by Turner 1775 -1851 and later Impressionism 1867 -1890

Sources of Inspiration Natural Forms Edward Weston, Franz Marc, Arthur Dove, Ryamond Jonson, Agnes Pelton, Shamanism Writing/Ecriture Calligraphic abstraction, scribbling Michel Tapie, Andre masson, Georges matthieu, Henri Michaux, Abstract Expressionism Music, Sensual stimuli Kandinsky – colour as vibration, Kandinsky ‘Improvisation 26 ‘rowing’ 1912 Georgia O’Keeffe Red Canna 1919 Henri Michaux ‘Untitled’ china ink on arches paper 1979 50 x 64. 5 cm

Dreams, psychology, philosophy Kant, Freud, Surrealism Georgio De. Chirico ‘The disquieting muses’ 1917 Spirituality Shamanism, New age, connection to soul & to source/God, mysticism, altered states, meditation Hilma Af Klint ‘Altarpiece, No. 1, Group X, Altarpieces’, 1915.

Logic, Fragmentation, Deconstruction Minimalism, Suprematism, Analytical Cubism Braque ‘Bottles and Pitchers’ 1910 1912 Geometry, Mathematics, Architecture Malevich ‘Self portrait in two dimensions’ 1915

Cubism Picasso ‘The Reservoir’ 1909 Still life 1910 Picasso

Mondrian’s tree study series clearly shows his process of abstraction, in stages Mondrian, Three Trees study for grey tree (left) 1911 charcoal, study for tree (centre) oil on canvas 1911, study for flowering tree (right) 1912 oil © Angela Corben 2020

Further reading/links • https: //www. tate. org. uk/art-terms/a/abstract-art • https: //www. ideelart. com/magazine/what-is-abstraction-a-simple-explanation-by-ideelart