Non-figurative abstraction begins with the imaginative power of humans. Clearly distinguishable from fantastic art, the form reflects reality in non-figurative expressions. In simpler words, non-figurative abstract art represents real shapes in quite a different way. Abstract art is not a result of 20th century thinkers, contrary to popular belief. Nor does it have a sudden origin. If we go back to the Islamic and Jewish religions, where the representation of human bodies was definitely a no-no, then we can find a lot of calligraphy and non-figurative art forms. Let’s even go back to prehistoric times, where humans used symbols for fire, water, or thunder, which are difficult for a modern man to interpret. However, those prehistoric creations have timeless appeal to modern men, due to their intrinsic aesthetics. Therefore, we can take those representations of our ancestors as a work of abstraction.

What does the story say?

People consider Wassily Kandinsky as the father of abstract art. Although he started with figurative work in 1910, he gradually abandoned it and concentrated on non-figurative forms. Painters like Kasimir Malewich followed his path and took the art form to another level. His paintings were mainly based on simple geometric shapes. Other artists who followed Kandinsky’s path were Paul Klee, Raoul Dufy, and Piet Mondrian. Piet Mondrian pioneered the first non-figurative abstract paintings.

In the middle of the 20th century, some historical events completely changed the normal course of abstraction. The Jewish persecution by Hitler, World War II, and the Nazis’ admonition of modern art resulted in the immigration of ultra-modern European artists to the United States of America, in hundreds of numbers. This brought forth a new wave on the American art scene, resulting in the birth of Abstract Expressionism.

Abstract Expressionism – What is it?

In reality, abstraction removes the reality of an object. The degree of removal varies from partial to complete. The image becomes a replica of reality in its subtle form.

The term does not represent any style. It is more of a performing art concept. The movement, made up of famous artists such as Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, pushed all traditional frontiers beyond all limits. Mark Rothko introduced a segment of abstraction with unified blocks of color, popularly known as “Color Field Abstract Art.” The other segment included multiple genres such as Cubism, Expressionism, Action Painting, and Surrealism. However, the core of abstract work remains the representation of the artist’s subconscious on canvas.

Phenomenal wave created by the masters

Pablo Picasso, in the first decade of the 20th century, created a new wave in the world of abstraction. It drastically changed the presentation, the forms and the styles of the creations and created a wave of movements; affecting the works of poets, musicians and authors around the world. George Barque’s practice of Cubism in his emotionally charged paintings with shapes, colors, and altered forms of Expressionism laid the foundation for abstraction. The shape was also inspired by post-impressionist artists such as Gauguin, Vincent Van Gogh, and Cezanne. At the beginning of the 20th century, Henry Matisse, together with his followers, introduced Fauvism. He was referring to the use of raw colors.

What makes abstract art different?

The basic characteristic that differentiates abstract art from realism is fluidity. This form represents things that are beyond the visionary perception of human beings, such as sound, emotion or spiritual experience. To quote Kandinsky, “of all the arts, abstract painting is the most difficult. It requires that you know how to draw well, that you have a great sensitivity for composition and colors, and that you be a true poet; the latter is essential.“

The future of abstract painting

With the advent of new tools and methodologies, there is a change in style from the traditional ones like color field painting and action painting. Forms take different forms, ideas become modern, and new thoughts arise. However, the basic idea behind abstraction remains the same. Non-figurative abstract art definitely has a bright and colorful future.