Abstract
Art
Imagery
which departs from representational accuracy, to a variable range of
possible degrees, for some reason other than verisimilitude.
Abstract artists select and then exaggerate or simplify the forms
suggested by the world around them. The paintings of Pablo Picasso
(Spanish, 1881-1973) and Georges Braque (French, 1882-1963) as well
as the sculptures of Henry Moore (English, 1898-1987), Barbara
Hepworth (English, 1903-1975), and Jacques Lipchitz
(Russian-American, 1891-1973) are examples of abstract art.
Wassily
Kandinsky, (Russian, 1866-1944), was one of the first creators of
pure abstraction in modern painting. After successful avant-garde
exhibitions, he founded the influential Munich group
Der
Blaue Reiter
(The Blue Rider; 1911-1914),
when his paintings became completely abstract. His forms evolved
from fluid and organic to geometric and, finally, to pictographic.
Representative artists:
Borduas,
Brancusi, Braque, Davis, Diebenkorn, van Doesburg, Dove, Duchamp,
Kandinsky, Léger, MacDonald-Wright, Malevich, Matta, Mondrian,
Murray, O'Keeffe, Picasso,
Scarlett, Strand, Tack, Vantongerloo