Abstract Art Essay Example

When most people criticize abstract art they are usually criticizing non-representational abstraction. Or, in other words, abstract art that doesn’t represent something you could see in real life. One criticism of abstract art is that it's often seen as random. Abstract art's nonrepresentational nature and inherent lack of symbolism allow for a wider range of potential meaning.  If you take a painting with a cross in it, you are immediately associating that with religion or faith somehow. It’s hard to interpret it as, “oh this represents the taste of mint ice cream on a hot summer day.” This is related to another criticism of abstract art: you could apply any meaning to it; imagine a famous art critic approaching a non-objective abstract piece coming up with some grand, intricate meaning behind the artwork. Examining the colors, the brushstrokes, the thickness of the paint. Only for the artist to say, “Yes, that’s exactly it! I definitely meant that, so much meaning behind this purposeful piece of art.”

This is what it comes down to, purpose. The value of abstract art is equal to the intention and purpose of its creation. If it wasn’t then would’ve every artist’s pallet be valuable abstract art? If you didn’t clean your pallet through the process of a painting then that pallet is an abstract representation of your painting. 

But it’s not, is it? Because you didn’t intend it to be, sure your brushstrokes, the colors you used, and the relationships between them are all there. But the placement of each stroke is completely arbitrary. And so is the painting, because it’s a dirty pallet. 

A misconception is that abstract art is like the dirty artist’s pallet. Created through chance, without purpose, without intent. The superficiality of abstract art created by chance doesn’t go beyond the potential for aestheticism. Yet, abstraction is a spectrum, and you can use it as a tool to create interest in your paintings.

This portrait for instance is representational, but it has abstract elements for visual interest. In this way, the aestheticism of abstraction can play an important role in the allure of an artwork.