Although artists rarely want to be categorized, the label "abstract expressionism" aptly describes their work. The paintings are completely abstract, with no recognizable objects from the real world (another term for completely abstract is NON-OBJECTIVE), and the purpose of their art is to create expression and emotion.

Abstract expressionism can be roughly divided into two general types. Jackson Pollock was representative of "action" or "gesture" painting, in which th

"I have no fears because painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through."

Artistic concerns were not the only impetus behind the development of abstract expressionism. The end of World War II, the explosion of the atomic bomb, and the realization that mankind had developed the ability to destroy itself were all factors in creating a mood of introspection and reflection. Although most abstract expressionists were trained in traditional forms of artmaking, they rejected representational art as incapable of expressing the emotional atmosphere of the time. By turning to new forms of expression Pollock, Rothko, and their colleagues brought American painting to international prominence and for the first time an American city, New York, replaced Paris and other European centers as the leader of the avant-garde art world.

Marcus Rothkowitz was born in 1903 in what we today call Russia. In 1913, he and his family emigrated to the United States, and settled in Portland, Oregon.

Some topics in this essay:
Poles Fig, Jackson Pollock, Paris European, Mexican African, Mark Rothko's, Mark Rothko, Expressionists Pollock’s, War II, Yale University, Rothko Abstract, mark rothko, abstract expressionism, abstract expressionists, jackson pollock, technique means, technique means expressing, recognizable objects, color field, art world, completely abstract, means expressing,