Expressionism is a subjective art form, where the artists distort the reality to bring out their emotional angst. This was not a movement in history with a distinctive start and end, but a mannerism, where sporadic creativity results, often without a pre-conceived subject or imagery. During 1950s, when Abstract Expressionism was prevalent in America, few artists returned to figurative imagery. This was the beginning of Figurative Expressionism, when artists used their existing Abstract ways to add figures to their paintings. This movement took centre stage in the art history post World War II.
The Details
Owing to its opposition to Impressionism, Expressionists worked with jarring colors to create a sheer visual representation of objects. The art style varied from using thick lines to bringing out the shape of the object, to merging figures into the background and leaving it to the observer to visualize the same. No attempt was ever made to create an atheistically pleasing impression. The idea was to let the painting unfold itself into their heartfelt vivid emotions. Painting was considered an active physical activity, which would result in pleasant surprises, not a meditative process with intellectual undertaking. A typical figurative work used bold colors to create a 2-dimensional perspective of dissolute distorted forms.
The Correlations
Pure Abstract Expressionists did not accept Figurative, as it had the elements of representational art. Similarly, Contemporary Art considered it too Abstract for Realism. Despite all conflicts, American Figurative Expressionism is a distinct head in art history.
The Artists and the Artworks
The earliest presence of Figurative Expressionism was found in the paintings of Edward Munch (Norwegian - 1863-1944) and Vincent van Gogh (Dutch - 1853-90). Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' (1889), which showed his emotional angst in his days of confinement in a mental institution, is one of the finest examples of the then simmering Figurative Expressionism.
Based on areas and styles, this movement can be graded into the following:
o Early American Figurative (1930s-40s) - Artists, such as Max Weber (Polish-American 1881-1961), Milton Avery (American 1885-1965), and Edwin Dickinson (American 1891-1978), purged various themes related to spirituality, myth, and literature into Early American Figurative Expressionism.
o New York Figurative Expressionism (1950s-65) - It was marked by the famous Post World War II American Figurative, such as Robert Beauchamp (1923-95), Elaine de Kooning (1918-89), Willem de Kooning (1904-97), Robert Goodnough (born 1917), Grace Hartigan (1922-2008), Lester Johnson (born 1919), Alex Katz (born 1927), George McNeil (1909-95), Jan Muller (1922-58), Jackson Pollock (1912-56), Fairfield Porter (1907-75), Larry Rivers (1923-2002), and Bob Thompson (1937-66). Although there were vast distinctions in their subject and styles of expression, the general trend was towards defying rules of Abstract Expressionism through a representational use of figures.
o Boston Figurative Expressionism - Due to extensive migration in Boston from Central Europe post World War II, its Figurative Expressionist style was closer to German Expressionism. Major Boston Figurative Expressionists included Karl Zerbe (1903-72), Hyman Bloom (born 1913), Jack Levine (born 1915), David Aronson (born 1923), and Philip Guston (1913-80), some of whom were of Jewish background. Paintings of this region carried the post war anxiety.
o West Coast Figurative Expressionism (1950-65) - It was prominent in San Francisco and Bay Area. Elmer Bischoff (1916-91), David Park (1911-60), Paul Wonner (1920-2008), and Joan Brown (1938-92) were the key players.
o Contemporary American Figurative Expressionism - Miriam Beerman, Sherman Drexler, Sideo Fromboluti, Grace Hartigan, Robert Henry, Oliver Jackson, Lester Johnson, Vera Klement, Irving Kriesberg, Jay Milder, Nathan Oliviera, Nora Speyer, Selina Trieff, and Paul Wonner are still contributing to it with undiminished spirit.
Conclusion
American Figurative Expressionism gave a new dimension to Expressionism in art forms, by increasing the viewer's participation in its style and subject. It has successfully recorded the angst and happening in America in those turbulent times. In the 21st century, the subject matter involves more Realism, but Figurative Expressionism continues to inspire artists to use brushed surfaces for figures.
