Art informel

Definition

Art informel is a European art movement that emerged in the aftermath of World War II, characterized by a spontaneous and expressive approach to painting and sculpture, focusing on the emotional and instinctual aspects of creation. This movement rejected traditional forms and techniques, emphasizing individuality and personal experience over representational fidelity. Art informel served as a reaction against academic norms and embraced a more intuitive method, which aligned with the broader context of post-war artistic exploration.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Art informel was significantly influenced by existentialist philosophy, reflecting themes of freedom, individuality, and the human condition after the trauma of war.
2. Artists associated with art informel often employed unconventional materials and methods, including collage, assemblage, and the use of found objects.
3. The movement fostered a sense of community among artists who shared ideas and philosophies, leading to collaborative exhibitions that emphasized collective expression.
4. French artists like Jean Fautrier and Jean Dubuffet were key figures in developing art informel, creating works that highlighted the raw and unrefined aspects of art-making.
5. Art informel played a crucial role in paving the way for later movements such as Neo-Dada and Fluxus, influencing contemporary practices that prioritize process over product.

Review Questions

• How did art informel respond to the traditional norms of art-making in Europe after World War II?
  • Art informel emerged as a direct response to the rigid academic standards that dominated the art scene prior to World War II. Artists sought to break free from conventional techniques and forms, favoring a more instinctual approach to creation. By prioritizing emotional expression and individuality, art informel challenged viewers to engage with art on a personal level rather than through established aesthetic criteria.
• Discuss the connections between art informel and the CoBrA movement in terms of their shared artistic philosophies.
  • Both art informel and CoBrA emphasized spontaneity and personal expression over structured artistic conventions. While art informel focused primarily on individual emotional experiences during the post-war era, CoBrA promoted collective creativity by bringing together artists from various European countries. This shared commitment to exploring new forms of expression forged a strong link between the two movements, as they both sought to redefine what art could be in a rapidly changing world.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of art informel on contemporary art practices, particularly in relation to ideas about process and spontaneity.
  • The influence of art informel is evident in many contemporary art practices that prioritize process over finished product. This movement's embrace of spontaneous creation paved the way for later developments such as Neo-Dada and Fluxus, where the act of making becomes integral to the artwork itself. Artists today continue to draw from the principles established by art informel, using unconventional materials and methods that celebrate individuality and personal experience in their creative processes.

Related terms

Abstract Expressionism: An American art movement that developed in the 1940s and 1950s, emphasizing spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation, closely related to the principles found in art informel.

CoBrA:

A European avant-garde movement formed by artists from Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam, which focused on expressionism and spontaneity, sharing commonalities with art informel.

Gestural Painting: A style of painting that emphasizes the act of painting itself as an important aspect of the artwork, often associated with the physical gestures of the artist, similar to techniques found in art informel.