What is Abstraction?
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Definition: A trend in painting and sculpture in the twentieth century. Abstract art seeks to break away from traditional
representation of physical objects. It explores the relationships of forms and colors, whereas more traditional art represents the world in recognizable images.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Definition: A trend in painting and sculpture in the twentieth century. Abstract art seeks to break away from traditional
representation of physical objects. It explores the relationships of forms and colors, whereas more traditional art represents the world in recognizable images.
Vasily Kandinsky Dominant Curve. 1936. Oil on Canvas. Guggenheim Museum. New York, NY.
“Strictly speaking, the word abstract means to separate or withdraw something from something else. The term can be applied to art that is based an object, figure or landscape, where forms have been simplified or schematised.
It is also applied to art that uses forms, such as geometric shapes or gestural marks, which have no source at all in an external visual reality. Some artists of this ‘pure’ abstraction have preferred terms such as concrete art or non-objective art, but in practice the word abstract is used across the board and the distinction between the two is not always obvious.
Abstract art is often seen as carrying a moral dimension, in that it can be seen to stand for virtues such as order, purity, simplicity and spirituality.” Taken from the Tate Museum website http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/a/abstract-art
It is also applied to art that uses forms, such as geometric shapes or gestural marks, which have no source at all in an external visual reality. Some artists of this ‘pure’ abstraction have preferred terms such as concrete art or non-objective art, but in practice the word abstract is used across the board and the distinction between the two is not always obvious.
Abstract art is often seen as carrying a moral dimension, in that it can be seen to stand for virtues such as order, purity, simplicity and spirituality.” Taken from the Tate Museum website http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/a/abstract-art
Theo Van Doesburg The Cow. 1916. Gouache, oil, and charcoal on paper. Moma. New York, NY.
Take a look at the below artwork by Roy Lichtenstein. It is non-objective art, which means it doesn’t show an image that most people would recognize. The composition is made up of lines, shapes, and colors arranged into a pleasing composition. Then it gets a little confusing because non-objective art is abstract, but not all abstract art is non-objective.
What would you think if you found out that this print was originally representing a bull?
Do you see it? No, not really.
What would you think if you found out that this print was originally representing a bull?
Do you see it? No, not really.
Roy Lichtenstein, Bull VI, 1973
Now take a look at all of them together. You can see that in each print Lichtenstein simplified the image before it until the bull was no longer recognizable.
Roy Lichtenstein, Bull Series, 1973
Artlex.com defined abstract art as “Imagery which departs from representational accuracy to a variable range of possible degrees, for some reason other than [appearing to be true or real].” Abstract art can have identifiable things in it and still be abstract.
Use four pieces of 8 1/2 x 11 copy paper and number them from 1 - 4. On the first page draw the bull as realistically as possible.
Use four pieces of 8 1/2 x 11 copy paper and number them from 1 - 4. On the first page draw the bull as realistically as possible.
On the fourth piece of paper, draw the bull as simply as you can. It might be a stick figure.
Think of your papers as a journey to the simplified bull. How do you get from a realistic bull to a simple one?
Fill in the center rectangles with the steps between.
Think of your papers as a journey to the simplified bull. How do you get from a realistic bull to a simple one?
Fill in the center rectangles with the steps between.
Examine the following image. What do you notice?
Click the button below to read an article about how to understand abstract art.
Now, click the below button to read an article on how to abstract an object.
Click the below button to access and complete the abstract practice worksheet.
Watch the video What is Abstract Art? and complete the worksheet.
Other interesting videos that discuss abstractions include:
The Case for Abstraction
Abstracting Everyday Objects
The Case for Abstraction
Abstracting Everyday Objects