Abstract Expressionism

c. 1943–1965

Abstract Expressionism emerged in the United States after World War II. Artists emphasized spontaneous gesture, scale, and emotional intensity rather than representation. The movement positioned the artist’s inner state as the primary subject. It marked a shift of the art world’s center from Europe to New York.

Elegy to the Spanish Republic, 108

Robert Motherwell

1965–1967

Abstract Expressionist work, part of a series mourning the Spanish Civil War.

Pompeii

Hans Hofmann

1959

Abstract Expressionist canvas, showcasing Hofmann’s “push and pull” color theory.

The Bridge

Franz Kline

1955

Bold black-and-white Abstract Expressionist composition emphasizing gesture and structure.

Woman

Willem de Kooning

1950–1952

Expressionist figurative painting merging abstraction with distorted female forms.

Blue Poles: Number 11

Jackson Pollock

1952

Abstract Expressionist drip painting (1952), iconic example of Pollock’s gestural action painting style.

Vir Heroicus Sublims

Barnett Newman

1950–1951

Monumental red Abstract Expressionist canvas exploring scale, presence, and the sublime.

Untitled (Violet, Black, Orange, Yellow on White and Red)

Mark Rothko

1949

Color field painting with layered rectangular fields, evoking meditative emotion.