Abstract Imagists

Abstract Imagists is a term derived from a 1961 exhibition in the Guggenheim Museum, New York called American Abstract Expressionists and Imagists. This exhibition was the first in the series of programs for the investigation of tendencies in American and European painting and sculpture.<ref>American abstract expressionists and imagists, (New York : Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1961.) Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: 61-18230</ref>

StyleEdit

It had been recognized that the paintings of Josef Albers, Barnett Newman, Mark Rothko, Adolph Gottlieb, Ad Reinhardt, Clyfford Still and Robert Motherwell were all very different yet the symbolic content was achieved "through dramatic statement of isolated and highly simplified elements."<ref>American abstract expressionists and imagists, (New York : Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1961.) Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: 61-18230 p. 23-31</ref> In many cases the dramatic simplification was achieved by the use of:

geometric means: Josef Albers; Franz Kline; Hans Hofmann
compression: Grace Hartigan; George McNeil
intricate elaboration of canvas surfaces: Richard Pousette-Dart; Robert Richenburg; John Ferren; Jimmy Ernst;
isolated shapes or signs: Adolph Gottlieb, Robert Motherwell
detailed over-all patterning of the canvas: William Baziotes
simplified structure through the dominance of the large, unified color shapes: James Brooks, Esteban Vicente, Adja Yunkers, Cameron Booth; Giorgio Cavallon

In some cases there was a "loss of the feeling and immediacy" in the work.

List of Abstract ImagistsEdit

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Template:Div col endSources:<ref>List of American abstract expressionists and imagists, (New York : Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1961.) Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: 61-18230 p. 85-95</ref>

Some other Abstract ImagistsEdit

Perle Fine (1908–1988)<ref>Tranquil power : the art and life of Perle Fine. p.202

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Ilse Getz (1917–1992)
Rollin Crampton (1896–1970)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Robert Goodnough (1917–2010)
David Hare (1917–1992)<ref>Shaman's fire : the late paintings of David Hare. p.11 Template:ISBN</ref>
Buffie Johnson (1912–2006)
William King (1925-)
Gabriel Kohn (1910–1975)
George Ortman (1926–2015)
James Rosati, (1911–1988)<ref>James Rosati - American Artist (1911-1988)</ref>

ReferencesEdit

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SourcesEdit

Virgil Baker, From realism to reality in recent American painting. (Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press, 1959.)
Sam Hunter, Modern American Painting and Sculpture. ([New York, Dell Pub. Co., 1959])
Harold Rosenberg, The Tradition of the New. (New York, Horizon Press, 1959)
György Kepes, The Visual Arts Today. (Middletown, Conn., Wesleyan University Press [1960])