Themes in Art

Abstract Art
Unshackled from the figure

For centuries artists created artwork to represent figurative images. Landscapes and people, gods and machines. Art was a tool to communicate reality. But with the proliferation of the camera, the purpose of art began to change. The world could be documented without paint or stone, so at the dawn of the 20th century, artists began to abstract their images, first fragmenting reality and eventually eliminating it completely.

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#10, Mark Rothko

#10 Mark Rothko, 1952

1944-N No. 2, Clyfford Still

1944-N No. 2 Clyfford Still, 1944

1948, Clyfford Still

1948 Clyfford Still, 1948

1951-T No. 3, Clyfford Still

1951-T No. 3 1951

A Lady and a Road Map, Bernice Bing

A Lady and a Road Map Bernice Bing, 1963

Abstract Composition, Théo Kerg

Abstract Composition Théo Kerg, 1933

Abstract Composition, Mainie Jellett

Abstract Composition Mainie Jellett, 1935

Abstract Painting, Ad Reinhardt

Abstract Painting Ad Reinhardt, 1966

Abstract Painting no. 4, Ad Reinhardt

Abstract Painting no. 4 Ad Reinhardt, 1961

Abstract Sculpture 3, Katarzyna Kobro

Abstract Sculpture 3 Katarzyna Kobro, 1924

Abstract Speed + Sound, Giacomo Balla

Abstract Speed + Sound Giacomo Balla, 1913 – 1914

Abstraction, Willem de Kooning

Abstraction Willem de Kooning, 1949 – 1950

Abstraction No. 4, Beauford Delaney

Abstraction No. 4 Beauford Delaney, 1965

After Xhorkum, Arshile Gorky

After Xhorkum Arshile Gorky, 1940 – 1942

Agony, Arshile Gorky

Agony Arshile Gorky, 1947

Alabama, Norman Lewis

Alabama Norman Lewis, 1960

Alalgura, My Country in Bloom, Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Alalgura, My Country in Bloom Emily Kame Kngwarreye, 1992

Alhalkere, My Country, Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Alhalkere, My Country Emily Kame Kngwarreye, 1994

Arabesque Brush, Albert Gleizes

Arabesque Brush Albert Gleizes, 1952

Argula, Arshile Gorky

Argula Arshile Gorky, 1939

Arlatyeye, Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Arlatyeye Emily Kame Kngwarreye, 1995

At the Solferino-Paris bridge, Théo Kerg

At the Solferino-Paris bridge Théo Kerg, 1951

Autumn Rhythm (Number 30), Jackson Pollock

Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) Jackson Pollock, 1950

Awelye, Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Awelye Emily Kame Kngwarreye, 1995

Balanced Forms, Araceli Gilbert

Balanced Forms Araceli Gilbert, 1952

Basin, Helen Frankenthaler

Basin Helen Frankenthaler, 1979

Berlin Series No. 1, Marsden Hartley

Berlin Series No. 1 Marsden Hartley, 1913

Berlin Series No. 3, Marsden Hartley

Berlin Series No. 3 Marsden Hartley, 1913

Berlin Series No. 47, Marsden Hartley

Berlin Series No. 47 Marsden Hartley, 1914 – 1915

Berlin Series No. 48, Marsden Hartley

Berlin Series No. 48 Marsden Hartley, 1913

Berlin Series No. 49, Marsden Hartley

Berlin Series No. 49 Marsden Hartley, 1914 – 1915

Berlin Series No. 50, Marsden Hartley

Berlin Series No. 50 Marsden Hartley, 1914 – 1915

Bird in Motion, Fortunato Depero

Bird in Motion Fortunato Depero, 1916

Bird Talk, Lee Krasner

Bird Talk Lee Krasner, 1955

Birth, Lee Krasner

Birth Lee Krasner, 1956

Black and White II, Charles Alston

Black and White II Charles Alston, 1960

Black and White, Suprematist Composition, Kazimir Malevich

Black and White, Suprematist Composition Kazimir Malevich, 1915

Black Square, Kazimir Malevich

Black Square Kazimir Malevich, 1915

Black Square and Red Square, Kazimir Malevich

Black Square and Red Square Kazimir Malevich, 1915

Black Trapezium and Red Square, Kazimir Malevich

Black Trapezium and Red Square Kazimir Malevich, 1915

Blue Green Yellow Orange Red, Ellsworth Kelly

Blue Green Yellow Orange Red Ellsworth Kelly, 1966

Blueberry, Joan Mitchell

Blueberry Joan Mitchell, 1969

Body Painting Series, Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Body Painting Series Emily Kame Kngwarreye, 1996

Breakthrough I, Robert Rauschenberg

Breakthrough I Robert Rauschenberg, 1964

Breeze Rustling Through Fall Flowers, Alma Thomas

Breeze Rustling Through Fall Flowers Alma Thomas, 1968

Broadway Boogie Woogie, Piet Mondrian

Broadway Boogie Woogie Piet Mondrian, 1942 – 1943

Budgerigar Dreaming, Kaapa Tjampitjinpa

Budgerigar Dreaming Kaapa Tjampitjinpa, 1972

Buds, Agnes Martin

Buds Agnes Martin, 1959

Bullfight, Elaine de Kooning

Bullfight Elaine de Kooning, 1959

Burney Falls, Bernice Bing

Burney Falls Bernice Bing, 1980

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Gardens, Themes in Art

Gardens

Spend some time in a quiet place

Cities, Themes in Art

Cities

Hustle and grind

Death in Art, Themes in Art

Death in Art

Life's only guarantee

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