Abstract art can be understood as having a non-specific, aesthetic quality, in which an artist creates works without using the medium of paint or canvas. Abstract art is frequently described as lacking an obvious underlying meaning, in which it is seen as standing for universal values such as simplicity, purity, order, and spirituality. Since the late 1900s, abstract art has become a key element of contemporary art. It can be said to be an artwork that intentionally has no identifiable subject matter, leaving its audience to fill in the blanks.
Different Schools of Thoughts on Abstract Art
There are two schools of thought concerning the definition and purpose of abstract art. The first school of thought upholds that the best definition of this art form is that it is a form of visual art that attempts to portray the feeling of void. According to this view, abstract painting aims to stimulate the emotional response within the viewer. It attempts to evoke an emotional response in the viewer by capturing their unconscious mind in the process.
Another school of thought regarding the definition and purpose of abstract art focuses on the idea that this art style emerged from the pre-modern period when artists tried to depict the natural world more appealingly and logically. They believed that the typical human being at the time could not understand the abstract world that was being created. These artists tried to give an objective view of the things that they were painting. This helped to make abstract art more appealing to a new generation of modern artists.
Attributes of Abstract Arts
The biggest characteristic of abstract art is the use of color. In the early periods of this visual art form, which can be dated back to the pre-modern era, artists used primary colors to paint the scenes. Later, as abstract art became more popular among the modernists, they began to use multicolored paint, which gave them greater versatility when it came to painting scenes. Although some artists still use primary colors, others have begun to paint in gray, black, and white. Others have added elements of perspective and depth through the use of splashes of color.
Another attribute of abstract art is that the paintings are not detailed. This is contrary to most forms of art, where the painter paints with great attention to detail. Most conventional paintings take time to create, while abstract art paintings tend to be highly detailed and colorful. The reason is simple – the painter wants to capture the abstract artwork’s mystical quality as accurately as possible.
