The 20th century brought about tremendous changes that had a profound impact on society and culture.  By observing these changes it becomes apparent that abstract art was a natural expression of the times and the resulting effect that the machine age and technology had on society.  Advancements in technology, such as the widespread use of electricity, the invention of the camera, the telephone, and radio, transformed the way people lived and perceived the world.  Simultaneously, the machine age propelled progress in modes of transportation, offering unprecedented mobility via railroads, automobiles, boats, and planes.  These new global advancements opened up a progressive era of prosperity all while the potential of dystopian World Wars loomed on the horizon.

“Abstract art has come into being as a necessary expression of the feelings and thoughts of our age; it has added new dimensions to creative painting.”  ~ Leonard Brooks

The world changed a lot, and very quickly.  Naturally, culture and art changed too.  The rapid pace of progress during this era both exhilarated and unsettled individuals.  On one hand, the world witnessed a new era of prosperity and endless possibilities.  On the other hand, the looming threats of two devastating World Wars created a sense of uncertainty and anxiety.  It was amidst these contrasting emotions and shifting societal norms that abstract art found its voice.  Not only that but as society as a whole became less restrictive and more open, the very idea that art could be rebellious, individualistic, and imaginative was better able to be received among the critics and collectors.

Abstract art was first created with indifference and sometimes blatant rejection to how tradition defined art. It was born from an experiment and a need to explore in new creative ways. Thus, it only makes sense that abstraction is not restricted or confined by a concrete set of rules – it can vary on a spectrum from very slight to completely non-objective.

Wikipedia states: “Abstraction indicates a departure from reality in depiction of imagery in art. This departure from accurate representation can be slight, partial, or complete.”

“Abstraction allows man to see with his mind what he cannot physically see with his eyes… Abstract art enables the artist to perceive beyond the tangible, to extract the infinite out of the finite. It is the emancipation of the mind. It is an explosion into unknown areas.” ~ Arshile Gorky

It is a common misconception to think that all abstract art does not have a subject matter –  that it is made up of shapes, color, and form that represent nothing of the real world.  This type of art is known as non-representational art or non-objective art (developed by Wassily Kandinsky and Kazimir Malevich), and while it is clearly a type of abstract art, the non-objective art style does not define the entirety of abstract art.  After all, the earliest known abstract art paintings were known to be done in the Cubism style.  Developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braques, these artists reduced and fragmented a realistic subject into strange forms and basic geometric shapes.  Often they would use a figure or portrait of an actual person that then goes through an abstraction process.  So within the spectrum of abstract art are a range of creative styles that are representational or expressive of their natural surroundings. This includes themes or subjects that are related to abstract nature art, or abstracted objects, landscapes, figures, cityscapes, and much more.

Over the years abstract art has evolved and been defined differently per the individual.  For some artists such as Jackson Pollock, abstract art is the result of enjoying the action of painting with grand gestural movements that are in touch with the way the paint drips onto the canvas.  Other artists who were influenced by Pollock, such as Jaison Cianelli, combined the idea of action painting with abstracting a subject such as a landscape.

“With abstract art I’m not trying to create a masterpiece, I’m trying to master peace.” ~ Jaison Cianelli

Today abstract art is still a popular style for creating art, and it’s not always painted with a brush and canvas.  It’s important to remember photography or digital art can be abstract, as well as installation art and sculptures. Contemporary art today utilizes the abstraction process in any number of ways, with a wide range of styles that could be related to inner emotions, action painting, and abstracted subjects such as landscapes, water scenes, animals, famous figures, and more.

Good abstract art can capture your imagination and take you on a viewing journey.  Abstract art should ultimately evoke something inside you. Here are large abstract art canvas paintings that are sure to please the senses.  These are contemporary abstract art pieces inspired by either landscapes, cityscapes, flowers, rocks, and other natural formations.