Abstract Expressionism

Abstract expressionists, such as Jackson Pollock, Kooning, Kline, and Rothko sought to merely express ideas and feelings within their work rather than express objects which had been the name of the art game for centuries. Of the artists we looked at this week my two favorites have been Jackson Pollock and Marc Rothko. Of all the abstract expressionist artists I have looked at, these two seem to be the best at expressing complicated feelings and emotions purely with colors and lines.

Pollock's way of working is unlike any artist I have seen. The seemingly unrestrained, unrefined toss of the brush creating very deliberate meaning. My favorite of his artwork is titled Number 5, 1948. This piece is a clear example of Pollocks use of layer after layer of varying colors to create a feeling.

While Pollock us

es varying layers of colored lines to create meaning, Marc Rothko uses deep solid blocks of color and the spaces in between to express his emotions. My favorite piece of Rothko's work was a small piece of work completed by Rothko after a period of sickness. It is an untitled piece of art, created in 1969.

Both artists were integral parts of the abstract expressionist movement, and have been revered as giving off high emotional reactions to their work. One day I hope to see one of these works in person so that I may truly appreciate the power of the color and texture