Abstract

The painting titled 'Abstract' exemplifies Tachisme, a French style of abstract painting prominent in the 1940s and 1950s. Originating as the European counterpart to abstract expressionism, Tachisme is characterized by spontaneous brushwork and an emphasis on intuitive, expressive forms. Associated with the larger Art informel movement, it moved away from geometric abstraction toward a more visceral, action-oriented style known as Abstraction lyrique. The painting’s gestural qualities evoke the postwar desire for personal expression, aligning it with related groups like COBRA and Japan’s Gutai.