Master 2019/2020

In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting

Type: Elective course (Russian and Comparative Literature)

Area of studies: Philology

Delivered by: School of Literary History and Theory

Where: Faculty of Humanities

When: 2 year, 3 module

Mode of studies: distance learning

Instructors: Yulia Kozitskaya

Master’s programme: Русская литература и компаративистика

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 2

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Want to know how some of the 20th century’s most celebrated artists made abstract paintings? This course offers an in-depth, hands-on look at the materials, techniques, and thinking of seven New York School artists, including Willem de Kooning, Yayoi Kusama, Agnes Martin, Barnett Newman, Jackson Pollock, Ad Reinhardt, and Mark Rothko. Through studio demonstrations and gallery walkthroughs, you’ll form a deeper understanding of what a studio practice means and how ideas develop from close looking, and you’ll gain a sensitivity to the physical qualities of paint. Readings and other resources will round out your understanding, providing broader cultural, intellectual, and historical context about the decades after World War II, when these artists were active. The works of art you will explore in this course may also serve as points of departure to make your own abstract paintings. You may choose to participate in the studio exercises, for which you are invited to post images of your own paintings to the discussion boards, or you may choose to complete the course through its quizzes and written assessments only. MOMA (Museum of Modern Art in New York City) https://ru.coursera.org/learn/modern-art-ideas

Learning Objectives

• • Learn about the materials, techniques, and approaches of seven New York School artists who made abstract paintings. • Trace the development of each artist’s work and studio practice in relation to broader cultural, intellectual, and historical contexts in the decades after World War II. • Hone your visual analysis skills. • Use each artist’s works as a point of departure for making your own abstract paintings.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Discover the New York School, becoming acquainted with the artists involved, the ideas they explored, the influences on their work and its critical reception. Compare oil and acrylic paint and learn how to mix paint.
• Discover how Barnett Newman made abstract paintings and the varied ways he used masking tape to create zips. Identify, through close looking, the characteristics of Barnett Newman's paintings and how he reinvented figure/ground relationships.
• Discover how Willem de Kooning made abstract paintings and how they reflect his relentless exploration of the physical properties of paint. Identify, through close looking, the characteristics of Willem de Kooning’s paintings and the relationship between his marks and the physical gestures he used to make them. Create a painting inspired by the materials and techniques of Willem de Kooning (optional).
• Discover the materials and strategies Jackson Pollock used to make abstract paintings on the easel and the ground. Identify, through close looking, the visual qualities of Jackson Pollock’s paintings and how they relate to his movements as he made them. Create a painting inspired by the materials and techniques of Jackson Pollock (optional).
• Discover how Mark Rothko tailored his paint and applied it to the canvas to create layered, optically rich compositions. Identify, through close looking, the characteristics of Mark Rothko’s paintings and how he used color to create a sense of depth. Create a painting inspired by the materials and techniques of Mark Rothko (optional).
• Discover how Agnes Martin balanced geometric rigor and manual imprecision in her paintings of shapes, grids, and lines. Identify, through close looking, the characteristics of Agnes Martin’s paintings and become attuned to their subtleties of color and surface. Create a painting inspired by the materials and techniques of Agnes Martin (optional).
• Discover the materials and strategies Ad Reinhardt used to create some of the most visually subtle paintings of the New York School. Identify, through close looking, the characteristics of Ad Reinhardt’s paintings, including the influence of Chinese calligraphy on his work and the subtle color variations within his Black Paintings. Create a painting inspired by the materials and techniques of Ad Reinhardt (optional).
• Discover how Yayoi Kusama used rhythm and repetition to create a range of paintings, sculptures, and other works. Identify, through close looking, the characteristics of Yayoi Kusama’s work, including her use of polka dots, nets, and other forms and how she used repetition to create a sense of infinity. Create a painting inspired by the materials and techniques of Yayoi Kusama (optional).

Course Contents

• Introduction
• Barnett Newman
• Willem de Kooning
• Jackson Pollock
• Mark Rothko
• Agnes Martin
• Ad Reinhardt
• Yayoi Kusama

Assessment Elements

• online test after each theme
• visual analysis essay
• evaluation of two fellow students essays

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (3 module)
  0.35 * evaluation of two fellow students essays + 0.3 * online test after each theme + 0.35 * visual analysis essay

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Barr, A. H. (2018). Cubism and Abstract Art. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2154455

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Pointon, M. R. (2014). History of Art : A Student’s Handbook (Vol. 5th edition). New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=733711