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The impact of Abstract Expressionism on international art movements was profound and far-reaching, influencing artistic practices and movements around the world. Here’s what we know about the impact of Abstract Expressionism on international art movements:
Abstract Expressionism had a significant influence on European art movements such as Informalism, particularly in countries like France, Spain, and Italy. Informalist artists embraced gestural abstraction and spontaneous mark-making techniques similar to those employed by Abstract Expressionist painters. Artists such as Jean Dubuffet, Antoni Tàpies, and Alberto Burri were among those influenced by Abstract Expressionism, incorporating its principles into their own artistic practices.
Art Informel, a European counterpart to Abstract Expressionism, emerged in the aftermath of World War II and shared many aesthetic and philosophical similarities with its American counterpart. Art Informel artists rejected traditional artistic conventions and embraced spontaneity, intuition, and the expressive potential of paint. Artists such as Jean Fautrier, Wols, and Hans Hartung were associated with the Art Informel movement and were influenced by Abstract Expressionist principles.
Tachisme, a French style of abstract painting characterized by spontaneous brushwork and gestural abstraction, emerged in the 1940s and 1950s and was influenced by Abstract Expressionism. Tachiste artists such as Pierre Soulages, Georges Mathieu, and Hans Hartung embraced the expressive potential of paint and explored themes of spontaneity, improvisation, and emotional expression in their work.
Abstract Expressionism had a significant impact on Japanese art movements such as Gutai, which emerged in the 1950s and emphasized experimentation, performance, and the exploration of new artistic materials and techniques. Gutai artists were inspired by the energy and spontaneity of Abstract Expressionist painting and sought to push the boundaries of artistic expression in their own practice. Artists such as Kazuo Shiraga, Shozo Shimamoto, and Atsuko Tanaka were associated with the Gutai movement and were influenced by Abstract Expressionist principles.
The Nouveau Réalisme movement, founded by French artist Pierre Restany in 1960, embraced a wide range of artistic practices including painting, sculpture, and performance art. While Nouveau Réalisme was not directly influenced by Abstract Expressionism, it shared a spirit of experimentation and a rejection of traditional artistic conventions. Artists associated with Nouveau Réalisme, such as Yves Klein and Jean Tinguely, were part of a broader international avant-garde that was shaped by the innovations of Abstract Expressionism.
Overall, the impact of Abstract Expressionism on international art movements was multifaceted and diverse, influencing artistic practices and movements around the world and contributing to the global dissemination of abstract art in the post-war era.