Research Point - Gesture and emotion

The Abstract Expressionists’ use of gesture was caught up with notions of authenticity and even of purity of intent. The influential critic Clement Greenberg wrote in his article ‘Avant Garde and Kitsch’ in 1939 about the good artist painting ‘cause’ and the bad artist painting ‘effect’. He also talks about what he describes as ‘the inflections of the personal’ becoming a legitimate subject. For example, the artist Jackson Pollock talked about wanting to paint from his emotions, not to illustrate them. What’s your response to these comments? 

Clement Greenberg's theories about art are summarised here and Jonathan Jones talks briefly about his legacy here. I read his essay here He has an interesting point about abstract art "The avant-garde poet or artist tries in effect to imitate God by creating something valid solely on its own terms, in the way nature itself is valid, in the way a landscape -- not its picture -- is aesthetically valid; something given, increate, independent of meanings, similars or originals. " If you subscribe to his theories artists can only produce valid work if they invent new images. To look like something else is derivative rubbish.  If that is the case then it is not valid to use art to draw attention social issues or make its viewers look at the ordinary more closely and hence better appreciate the world around them. An artist can paint from their emotions and still produce a representative image which is visually striking and academically valid. Surely the best art works as an interesting image with layers of meaning which can be extracted over time, and may change as time goes on and the viewers personal perspective is changed by other factors.  I disagree with Mr Greenberg on all counts. (My other problem with him is his pompous assertions that fine art and culture is for the privileged few and the rest of the world is not capable of appreciating it and can only understand a dumbed down version that he calls kitsch.)

I think that there is space for Jackson Pollock painting emotionally, and others who are more comfortable, or capable of, illustrating a point in their paintings.  Audiences are capable of appreciating both viewpoints if the work is done well. I would argue that Edvard Munch's The Scream is an extremely effective painting of a strong emotion which, for me, seems very illustrative.

I do however agree with the Abstract Expressionists that gesture, and the manner of mark making conveys something extra to a drawing or painting on top of the basic image. As rushed, hesitant or careful line will each be interpreted differently on the page and say more about the artist's intent for the picture. It is surely highly desirable to feel an emotion so intently that you will convey it in an artwork.