Exploring the Impact of Post-War Art: The Significance and Appeal of Post-War Abstract Art for Today’s Collectors
As far as the art world is concerned, the period after World War II brought about significant change and a vastly changed perspective and perception of the world, politics, and society. Post-war art movements saw artists redefining the boundaries of what was considered art through their expressive commentary on the upheaval, devastation, and chaos that had come to define society. As a result of the pervading feelings of loss and discontent, artists of this period wanted to showcase their disillusionment with the prevailing popular art in favor of pieces that called for deep introspection. Art from this period, especially post-war abstract art, is extremely valuable today, offering collectors a look into the transformative era.
Post-War Art At A Glance
The post-war art period generally refers to artworks produced from the end of the Second World War until the 1970s. In general, as a commentary on how the war had turned the world upside down, artists of these periods rejected popular forms of art from the pre-war periods. The traditional representation figures and forms were replaced mainly by non-representational, abstract allusions to emotion and the expression of collective experience. Post-war abstract art saw painters experiment with color, space, and texture, inviting viewers to explore the depths of their consciousness and the collective, complicated consciousness of human existence without using literal forms to guide them.
The Post-War Period and Emotional Depth
One of the most defining characteristics of post-war abstract art is its tendency to evoke intense emotion in its viewers. Through their use of vibrant and often contrasting colors as well as exploring space, depth, and texture, artists sought to convey their deep struggles with the emerging post-war world. The significant shift away from representation in art allowed artists and viewers to explore new and unique depths of their consciousness and emotions. Viewers were invited into the artists’ consciousnesses through their abstract expression and to then develop their own interpretations and emotional connections. Viewers at the time and collectors today find value and beauty in these paintings’ emotional rawness and authenticity, which gives them ongoing relevance in a world that continues to change.
Key characteristics of post-war paintings
Fundamental to post-war expressionist art is the rejection of convention. This was expressed by dramatic color contrasts and canvas sizes, unconventional materials, and nontraditional methods and techniques. These features combined to create unexpected, daring results that challenged the status quo in the art world. Paintings from this period typically do not feature a central focus or subject, but instead, they use lines and shapes to create meaning. This lack of distinct or distinguishable subjects makes the art open to interpretation by the viewer, allowing them to speculate about the artist’s own intentions as well as to let the art create unique meaning for themselves. This characteristic means that art from this era can continue to make novel meaning for viewers in unique contexts.
Two major styles evolved during this period of art:
Color field painting: This style of painting embodied expression and emotion through the use of vast ‘fields’ of color (which could be contrasting or complimentary) painted onto canvas.
Action painting: This style stood in contrast to the seemingly structured color field paintings. It was so named for its emphasis on the actions that the artists employed to get paint onto canvas. Physicality and spontaneity became a focus of the art created in this movement.
Why Do Post-War Paintings Appeal To Modern Collectors?
Art pieces from significant historical periods appeal to collectors for their age, their cultural and historical significance, and, in many instances, for the materials and techniques used. Post-war style paintings have these features and are uniquely aesthetically adaptable and versatile because of their abstract nature. Abstract pieces can complement almost any contemporary space while still being unmistakably representative of the era in which they were created. The historical significance of the post-war period still endures, making art produced during this time extremely valuable for collectors. Importantly, the ambiguous aesthetic nature of abstract art means that it can still evoke as much meaning for viewers experiencing a changing contemporary world as it did for viewers experiencing the post-war world.
