Abstract Art
Ironically, the vernacular usage of the term "abstract art" is almost the opposite of what abstract art is, such vernacular usages referring more to what is actually called "non-representational art."

 Abstract art is not completely non-representational art. In fact, abstract art involves analysis, embellishment or deconstruction of existing natural forms. Picasso's Analytical Cubist works especially fall into this category and Picasso is an "abstract artist" having never completely left the figure, the landscape or the interior behind. Kandinsky's early works would also qualify as abstract ones in which recognizeable objects are observed to be 'abstracted' past any mimetic depiction. Many of Kandinsky's later works however are not merely abstract works but completely non-representational, consisting of lyrical arrangements of shapes, lines and other design elements with few visual analogues or references to naturalism. Thus, abstract art is a modern style or device which is still built on the foundation of representation and in art history was one of the last steps towards true non-representational art.

Some artists of the New York School of Abstract Expressionism, including Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko are examples of purely non-representational art.
(definition©Prof. Lawrence Waldron)

• go back up
  
  N.B. All images and all content on this web site are copyrighted© and may not be used in any way whatsoever without the express written permission of artist Shastri Maharaj