Final answer:
Action painting refers to a style of abstract expressionism where the process of painting is emphasized over the finished work. It is characterized by spontaneous, energetic applications of paint and associated with artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, who used non-traditional methods such as dripping and splashing paint onto canvases.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Action Painting
Action painting is a style of art developed during the abstract expressionism movement, particularly in post-World War II America. It emphasizes the physical act of painting itself, valuing the gestures, motions, and the artist's emotional expression during the creation process over the final aesthetic of the artwork. The term was coined by American art critic Harold Rosenberg in 1952, who described the canvas as 'an arena in which to act.' This form of painting is closely associated with artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, who used unconventional methods such as dripping, pouring, and splashing paint onto canvases that were often placed on the floor.
Pollock, known for his unique techniques, represented the quintessence of action painting by allows paint to drip and splatter while employing dynamic body movements. This method revolutionized the concept of painting, shifting focus to the act of creating art rather than just the finished product. Similarly, de Kooning employed aggressive and expressive brushstrokes to convey emotion, though differing from Pollock in his inclusion of figurative elements.
Abstract expressionism, supporting non-representational art, fundamentally embraced spontaneous creation, wherein artists conveyed emotion through rapid brushstrokes and dynamic applications of paint. The entire canvas in action painting was treated as equally important, and the mediums used varied from synthetic, resin-based paints to household implements as tools for application, symbolizing the break from traditional painting conventions.