Test 4: A Tale of Two Decades

While there is never a distinct start or end to an art movement, styles rise and fall with popularity over time. This was true in the Postwar Art world, where there is visible change inattitude and styles over time.

From the 1940s-1950s, Abstract Expressionism represented a huge portion of the Postwar Art movement. With combined influence from artists like Picasso and Matisse, and movements such as Cubism, Surrealism, and early Modernism, early Postwar Art styles such as Action Painting and Tachisme were born. Through these styles, the journey towards making art became as important as the end product, with representation less important than improvisation, and a focus on the spontaneous and subconscious.

During the 1960s-1970s, we see a political shift influenced by multiple wars, mass
consumerism, and a rising fight for civil rights. While the Abstract Expressionist art of the 1950’s was largely accepted and applauded by the elite avant-garde and critics, art in the 1960’s often questioned the art establishment and its right to define art, seen in movements such as Performance art, Pop Art, and Conceptualism. These movements showcased a new, younger generation's approach to art.

In this part of the course, you will determine if the work shown fits in more with the mostly Abstract Expressionist 1940’s-50’s, or if it aligns more with the anti-establishment movements of the 1960’s. The assignments will help you look at the pictures more closely and will provide a basis for the more difficult parts of the course.