The Evolution of 1970s Abstract Art: From Expressionism to Postmodernism
Well, you know, back in the 1970s, things started changing quite a bit, especially in the art world. Before that, art was mostly about clear pictures, like portraits or landscapes, that you could tell what they were just by looking at them. But in the 70s, a lot of folks started to get tired of that and wanted something new, something different. So, that’s when abstract art really started to make its mark. People began painting stuff that didn’t look like anything at all! Just shapes and colors, some swirling around, some flat, some sharp. It was like they were sayin’, “Hey, this don’t have to make sense, it just has to feel right!”
Now, you might wonder, what exactly is abstract art? Well, in simple terms, it’s when an artist doesn’t paint what you can see in real life. They paint how they feel or what they think, and it could look like a mess of colors or shapes, but it means something to them. It’s not about showing a tree or a person, but more about showing emotion or energy. And let me tell ya, the 70s saw a whole lot of this going on, especially with artists who were looking for new ways to express themselves, a fresh way of painting that didn’t stick to the old rules.
During this time, there was a big shift in how art was thought about. The 60s had their Pop Art, you know, with all the bright colors and famous folks like Andy Warhol, who turned things like soup cans and celebrities into art. But by the 70s, Pop Art was losing its fizz, like a soda that’s been open too long. People wanted something deeper, something that didn’t just look good but made you think. And that’s where abstract art came in strong, especially abstract expressionism.
Some big names in the 70s abstract scene were people like Fridel Dzubas, Stephen Greene, and Jim Dine. These folks didn’t just paint pictures; they created feelings with paint! They took their brushes and just let loose, not worrying about making something recognizable, but something that felt right, something that spoke to the soul. The 70s was a time of breaking free from tradition and opening the door to new ideas in art.
But it wasn’t just American artists getting in on the action. Over in Europe, things were happening too. The 70s saw artists all over the world experimenting with abstraction. You’d get painters using bold, wild colors and strange shapes, and no one cared if it looked “real” or not. They were all about expressing emotions, ideas, and experiences that couldn’t be captured with just a simple picture of a cow or a house.
Now, I’ve heard some folks say that the 1970s was the time when art really started to get “contemporary,” meaning it was no longer just about painting a pretty picture. It was about questioning everything. And that’s what abstract art did—it made people look at the world in a new way. Maybe it didn’t tell you exactly what to think, but it made you think, and that was the point.
One thing that really stands out from the 70s is how this period wasn’t just about artists painting by themselves. It was also about the rise of art galleries and big-time shows. I hear tell of places like Betty Parsons Gallery and the Marilyn Pearl Gallery in New York City, where these abstract painters would put their works on display for everyone to see. That’s when more people started paying attention to this new kind of art, and it started to get more popular, even if it still confused some folks.
In the 70s, the art world was really shifting. People were more open to new ideas, and abstract art became a way to explore emotions and ideas that words couldn’t describe. It wasn’t about just looking at a painting and saying, “Oh, that’s nice.” It was about looking at a painting and feeling something, even if you didn’t understand it right away. The 70s wasn’t just about making art—it was about changing what art was and what it meant.
And let’s not forget how the 70s art world also brought out some big names in the business of selling art. Folks started paying big bucks for abstract paintings, especially if they were from well-known artists. I’ve seen paintings from the likes of Lowell Nesbitt and Milly Ristvedt go for tens of thousands of dollars. Can you imagine? A simple painting with bold strokes and colors, and it’s worth more than a whole year’s worth of crops!
So, in the end, the 1970s was a time of big change in the art world. It was a time when abstract art really took off, changing how people thought about what art could be. It was no longer about copying the world around us; it was about expressing something deeper, something more personal. And while some folks might still not understand abstract art, I think we can all agree that it’s got a place in history, showing us that art doesn’t have to make sense to be beautiful.
Tags:[1970s abstract art, abstract expressionism, contemporary art, pop art, 1970s art, modern art, abstract paintings, abstract artists, art history, contemporary abstract art]
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