Abstract Expressionism

Autumn Rhythm No. 30, Jackson Pollock, 1950, enamel on canvas, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The term Abstract Expressionism, sometimes referred to as the New York School, was applied to new forms of abstract art emerging in New York during the 1940s and 1950s. It’s somewhat problematic to label Abstract Expressionism as a straight up art movement due to the fact that there is no singular style or characteristic that unifies these artists - often they’re divided into two strands consisting of the action painters and colour-field painters. Abstract Expressionism is more of an umbrella term used when discussing both of these forms of art because, despite their differences, they shared a lot in common.

Many of these artists emerged from the Federal Art Project which was a visual arts programme sponsored by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. The programme offered employment and relief for artists and artisans to enable them to create murals, easel paintings, sculpture, graphic art and much more. Many works produced through the WPA depicted American history, industry and progress to inspire a troubled nation - most notably Social Realism or Regionalism were a notable art movement to come out of the WPA displaying these types of subjects in their work. Some artists however were not representational in style, producing entirely abstract pieces which would later be recognised as Abstract Expressionist. 

The New York strand of the WPA especially were drawn to European modernism, Surrealism in particular. Although abstraction wasn’t widely popular at the time, especially in museums, the WPA was supportive of abstract art and made an effort to concentrate on producing art regardless of the direction these artists were taking. These artists explored abstract expressions of the self which fitted perfectly into a post-war America. Abstract Expressionism ultimately put America on the art historical map, positioning New York as the leader of modern art in the 20th century, taking the crown from Paris who had dominated the previous century.