Educational Media Reviews Online

Cubism and Abstract Expressionism provide an introduction to these two significant art movements. The former, created by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braques, was Europe-centered and short-lived, but entirely revolutionary. The narrator of this video describes the artists’ investigations that resulted in their development of cubism, both analytic and synthetic, and the creation of a new artistic technique, known as collage. As the narrator speaks, jazz music provides the accompaniment to the display of many of the most well-known works by these two artists, as well as works by artists they inspired. Cubism, the viewer understands, set the stage for the abstract painting and sculpture that flourished after World War II.

Abstract Expressionism, though influenced by the European movement called Surrealism, was centered in New York City after World War II. This art movement embraced a diversity of artists, who shared an interest in expressing their feelings and emotions. The narrator cites singular characteristics of the movement, such as an interest in the subconscious; an interest in the formal elements of painting (color, texture, shape); and an interest in non-objective, non-representational art. Works by Arshile Gorky, Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline, Hans Hoffman, Mark Rothko, and Robert Motherwell, among others, serve to illustrate the narrative. Junior high students, the primary audience for both these short films, will no doubt find the information to be useful, concise, and largely easy-to-understand. The glorious art works that are displayed add excitement to the videos, which otherwise lack many creative touches. Recommended for middle school libraries and recommended for use in studio art as well as art history instruction.