ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM: Who were the Irascible 18?

The Irascible 18 wrote an open letter to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1950 to denounce its conservatism. Adolph Gottlieb wrote it and was supported by Theodoros Stamos, Jimmy Ernst, Barnett Newman, James Brooks, Mark Rothko, Richard Pousette-Dart, William Baziotes, Jackson Pollock, Clyfford Still, Robert Motherwell, Bradley Walker Tomlin, Willem de Kooning, Adolph Gottlieb, Ad Reinhardt and Hedda Sterne among others. These 15 artists weren't the only ones who signed the open letter, but they were the subjects of an iconic photograph made by Nina Leen. We're going to look at each of them and, also, illustrate how little in common these artists have by explaining the difference between Action Painting and Color Field Painting.

James. E. B. Breslin's book:

Videos on paintings mentioned or seen:

Ben Shahn's The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti:

Marcel Duchamp's Nude Descending a Staircase:

Piet Mondrian's Broadway Boogie-Woogie:

Salvador Dali's Persistence of Memory:

#arthistory #art #abstractimpressionism

[patatoth]

Rothko uses a technique called Tiefenlicht ( "deep light" in german, i don´t know if it´s the correct term in english) that rennaisance artists used to create this magnificent effect of depth in their paintings. combined with the arrangement of his squares rothko created an optical illusion that can´t be found anywhere else in this world. If you stand in front of an rothko for about 10 minutes (thats how long it took for me) about 4-5 feet away the paintning starts to envelop you and you will start to look into an universe of colour an emotion. it´s sounds flowery but that is what it feels like. That was Rothkos primary goal, to make you feel. Not in an subjective way but create an objective feeling on canvas.stepping away feels like waking up from a dream. With this technique he aspired to eliminate the tranlation from artist to work and the work to the onlooker. Rothko was a stan for Karl Jung and his idea ofthe Archetype (ideas that transcend culture and are inherent throughout humanity) so in a way Rothko tried to create those in painting. Something that elicit the same emotion in every person.
People see these paintings on photographs and don´t understand what the fuzz is about. Beeing enveloped by one of them was the most sureal and one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. These Paintings are highly functional. it´s not about different opinions, these paintnings manipulate our physiology. They are Emotion machines

[felixdawson]

Came here from Nerdwriter’s video and see I have watched a couple of yours already, this is great stuff. You should plug in the comments of more similar youtubers, The Art Assignment maybe. Just comment in all their videos as soon as they come out, and slip in that you make art video essays

[adiibismail]

Beautifully explained. Immediately subscribed, can’t wait to binge these! These deserve so much more views.

[strzyzenierzemieslnikow]

This is certainly the best art channel on YouTube. Videos are so informative and interesting. And I love your voice.

[allypicard]

Just found your channel via this video. This by far was the most informative and helpful video that I’ve seen on abstract expressionism.

[hawk]

I really enjoyed your video, you clearly have a genuine passion for art. The video is very polished and well written. However I have a hard time finding anything in these painitings that would move me. I take it you are moved by them. What do you think is the reason for this difference?
I've thought about the Rothko story a lot and I would honestly like to know your opinion on my thoughts if you can spare the time.
For me, what is missing, is a narrative component to the paintings. The only narrative I can see is that of the life of the author. Pollock's paintings are only interesting to me as a way of looking at Pollock. They are not interesting to me in themselves.
Maybe we look at art because we care about its narrative. Everyone cares about universal narratives to do with suffering and love, life and death, etc. But few people care about the narratives of the lives of artists and concequently they don't care about their art that much.
Could that be it? Could it be that you find meaning in those paintings because you care about the people who made them? Could it be that that is the reason the man in the Rotho story ended up buying Rothko's paintings, because he began to care about the man, which made him care about his art?

[georgeedward]

I love how art is officially evaluated by a "jury" as if the artist has been accused of something.

[rajsingharora]

Thank you for Love 1950's America and the Art. I wonder if you have a video of Abstract Expressionism, Jazz & the Beats....I mean there is a deep artistic Connect between these three & the 1950 -1960.

[UltimateKyuubiFox]

Hearing Hedda Sterne became mainly known for her being in that photo rather than her work is unfortunate, since her example-paintings were easily the most interesting to me of the ones associated with the 18 in this video.

[suzimajor]

This was BRILLIANT. Thank you for posting this.

Where are Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, and Grace Hartigan. Lee Krasner and Elaine de Kooning I wonder?

[Marceau.Verdiere.Atelier]

Very eloquent, clear and informative. Thanks!

[peteralexander]

Well presented with a lot of good info squeezed in. Thanks.

[sebastianmuci]

This channel has grown to become one of my favorites, I'm left wanting more and you do an amazing job at everything. Do you think you can make a video about books you recommend relating to art history?

[TheArtGarden]

Wish i had a group of artists friends man that would be life

[simonabbott]

Could you please also list your background music. So that if anyone likes it they can look it up?

[tishapaculba]

Hi I really enjoyed your video. I am very curious where you got the quote from Hedda Sterne - “They were very furious that I was in it because they were sufficiently macho to think that the presence of a woman took away from the seriousness of it all” it would help from my research.
thanks

[jacobibanez]

Thank you for your work. Appreciated much

[maryam]

Dear The Canvas! Have you got a video devoted to Paul Klee? Will be much appreciated for a link!

[chineainguanzo]

I can view Gorky, a great painter, this is a great group.