Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Beginning in the early 20th century, abstract art became a leading style of modernism. Rather than portray the world in a way that represented reality, as had been the dominating style of Western art in the previous centuries, abstract paintings, prints and sculptures are marked by a shift to geometric forms, gestural shapes and experimentation with color to express ideas, subject matter and scenes.
Although abstract art flourished in the early 1900s, propelled by movements like Fauvism and Cubism, it was rooted in the 19th century. In the 1840s, J.M.W. Turner emphasized light and motion for atmospheric paintings in which concrete details were blurred, and Paul Cézanne challenged traditional expectations of perspective in the 1890s.
Some of the earliest abstract artists — Wassily Kandinsky and Hilma af Klint — expanded on these breakthroughs while using vivid colors and forms to channel spiritual concepts. Painter Piet Mondrian, a Dutch pioneer of the art movement, explored geometric abstraction partly owing to his belief in Theosophy, which is grounded in a search for higher spiritual truths and embraces philosophers of the Renaissance period and medieval mystics. Black Square, a daringly simple 1913 work by Russian artist Kazimir Malevich, was a watershed statement on creating art that was free “from the dead weight of the real world,” as he later wrote.
Surrealism in the 1920s, led by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Meret Oppenheim and others, saw painters creating abstract pieces in order to connect to the subconscious. When Abstract Expressionism emerged in New York during the mid-20th century, it similarly centered on the process of creation, in which Helen Frankenthaler’s expressive “soak-stain” technique, Jackson Pollock’s drips of paint, and Mark Rothko’s planes of color were a radical new type of abstraction.
Conceptual art, Pop art, Hard-Edge painting and many other movements offered fresh approaches to abstraction that continued into the 21st century, with major contemporary artists now exploring it, including Anish Kapoor, Mark Bradford, El Anatsui and Julie Mehretu.
Find original abstract paintings, sculptures, prints and other art on 1stDibs.
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Pastel
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Gouache, Cardboard, Pencil
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Oil Pastel, Paper, Pastel
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor, Archival Paper
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Charcoal
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Charcoal
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Graphite
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Pencil
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Pen, Ink
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Pastel
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Charcoal
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Charcoal
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Charcoal
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Charcoal
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Charcoal
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Charcoal, Paper
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Canvas, Plaster, Paper, Oil, Gouache
20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
Artist Comments
"The fanciful notion that these blocky residences were carved right out of the side of the cliffs was the impression that inspired this painting," shares artist Joe Giuffrida. He presents a panoramic view of a city on the Amalfi coast. He leaves most of the architecture white to create one large shape that fits like a puzzle piece into the surrounding cliffs and foliage. The space becomes the central highlight of the entire composition against the vibrant shades of enclosing nature.
About the Artist
Artist Joe Giuffrida paints impressionist landscapes frequently balanced with architectural arrangements. His artistic vision diverges from traditional styles depending on the subject at hand. "My creative energy is best developed through being on-site, observing a location, and getting the feel of the environment," says Joe. An expression of what is felt but not necessarily seen flourishes in his work, pushing the limits of color and value beyond what is there. Joe sought mentorship through workshops and college classes, then supplemented his learning by reading books on art techniques. He developed a firm belief in his craft being good through the perception of feeling rather than visuals. Emotional connections hold a crucial part of his creative process, challenging himself to be able to convey his responses while leaving room for the viewer's interpretation. He works in two studios, one for subtle watercolor painting and the other for bold and heavy acrylics and oils - systemized by organized clutter. His work has been featured in American and European publications and displayed in England, Germany, France, and the United States. Outside of painting, he channels his prowess as a musician, spending considerable time learning new guitar music...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink, Gouache, Graphite
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor
Early 2000s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, India Ink, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paint, Conté, Paper, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Permanent Marker, Tempera, Wat...
1960s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Pastel
Late 20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, India Ink, Gouache
Early 2000s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, India Ink, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, India Ink
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor
1970s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Gouache
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Thread, Paper, Watercolor
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Gouache
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Charcoal
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink, Watercolor
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Illustration Board, Mixed Media
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor