In the purest form, abstract art is a typical form of Western art that does not have any recognizable subject. It does not relate to particular thing, any external entity or something like that. Instead this form of art there are no such primary entities, non-representational or non-objective subjects. According to Wassilu Kandinsky, "Of all the arts, abstract painting is the most difficult. It demands that you know how to draw well, that you have a heightened sensitivity for composition and for colours, and that you be a true poet. This last is essential." Further distinctions must be made geometric shapes and the use of the same in abstract art, which is quite common.

During the 19th century, the use of style and color had become more important than the real depiction of an image. Great artists like Seurat, Cesanne and Monet have been often cited as some of the major influences on this movement because they decided to give greater importance to the inherent artistic value that is required to create art work.

Quite interestingly, abstract art has been springing up all over the Western nations during the first few decades of 20th century. This has led to a considerable debate as to who has been the first abstract artist in the true sense of the term. As the form is variable in its techniques and also in medium, classifications of fully abstract art work and semi-abstract art work can be extremely misleading and confusing as well. The form actually involves a lot of styles, such as Orphism, neo-impressionism and cubism.

If you look at the iconic images involved in abstract art, which is quite commonly used, you would find it quite familiar to the artwork of 20th century. Use of vibrant splashes and colors dancing across the canvas, in different geometric shapes and brilliant colors marks the perfect art work of abstract artists. Abstract art done by Theo Van Doesburg, Dutch master and Piet Mondrian shows the use of mixed-medium materials, such as metals, paper mache, randomly manufactured objects and photographs.

Abstract art has been quite controversial as well, and more to the ones rooted in this concept of abstract art as the faithful depictions of objects and scenes. While abstract art is quite far away from reality, it still has an element of real life presence in terms of the forms, shapes and colors used.

Representations of abstract art is an unwritten belief which shows that this form of art was actually meant to represent or reflect what existed in the real world. Artists have been rebelling against these restrictions, and also against the basic idea of this form of art as an imitation. The basic idea of this form of art was mainly developed in the middle of 19th century. Therefore, art did not refer to anything that could represent the modern world. Colors and forms used for expressing different state of consciousness or feeling were considered to be personal, though not realistic. However, it is important to note that abstract painting required discipline and patience.





Hector Leon is the author of this article on abstract art . Find more information, about abstract art explained here