Minimalism first arose as a movement in the 1950s, continuing throughout the sixties and seventies. Minimalist art can include paintings, drawings, sculpture, and can be applied to things such as architecture. Like abstract art, there is no real life subject as reference, as the subject is the painting itself. The artist hopes that the viewer can experience the work in its most intense form. Traditional concepts such as that of composition and theme are considered distractions; the content and form of minimalist art should be as simplistic as possible. Stripped of detail, minimalist art often includes geometric shapes and uses industrial materials.
This movement differs from many of the others in that it is meant to be impersonal. Minimalist art strived to be as unexpressive as possible. In this way, the movement was a reaction against Abstract Expressionism, which takes artistic expression to the extreme. Famous minimalist artists include Frank Stella, Ellsworth Kelly, Dan Flavin, Donald Judd and Carl Andre.
The picture I included is Ad Reinhardt’s “Abstract Painting,” which is one in his famous series of Black Paintings. This can be seen in the New York Guggenheim Museum.
Sources:
Christopher Want. “Minimalism.” Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. 24 Sep. 2009 <http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T058397>.
“Minimalism.” Art Movements Directory. 24 Sep. 2009
< http://www.artmovements.co.uk/minimalism.htm>.
“Minimalism.” Guggenheim Collection Online. Guggenheim Foundation. 24 Sep. 2009
< http://www.guggenheimcollection.org/site/movement_works_Minimalism_0.html>.
