The New York School

The term Abstract Expressionism covers the art and artists between 1950 and 1960 that explored the concept of line and structure; pushing the question, "what is art?"




For example, many have looked at Jackson Pollock's "action painting" has been misunderstood as childlike and easy. It is more accurate to say revolutionary. Pollock's strokes undo all of the rigid adherence to the rules. If Pollock were around today, we would say he thought outside the box.



I have written about Rothko here. In what would seem like a simple application of two or three colors, Rothko explores the depths and synergy of color relationships. Without any representational intention, his audience was often left wondering how they should react.
deKooning was also classified as an Abstract Expressionist and artist of the New York School. These artists were rebels. They were considered the last Avant Garde. deKooning's art is messy. It isn't soothing. It makes you feel emotions you might not be comfortable with.

Compared to the Abstract Expressionists, the later Warhol and Lichtenstein were considered "hard line" artists. And if you look back from this perspective, these works have soft, manipulated and undefined lines.  deKooning is known for his painting, "Woman I."

The New York School was known as much for its poets as for its artists. Some notable poets were Frank O'Hara, John Ashberry, James Schuyler, and Kenneth Koch. These poets often collaborated with the artists, many reviewed art and lived in the same area of Manhattan in the 1950s and 1960s.

Some of the books of poems in our collection include:

Standing still and walking in New York, by Frank O'Hara.
The collected poems of Kenneth Koch, by Kenneth Koch, and
Other flowers: uncollected poems, by James Schuyler.

For a limited time, there is a display on the third floor of the Worcester Public Library. Please come and visit!