Minimalism

(1960s)

a reaction against the emotionally charged techniques of Abstract Expressionism and a further refinement of pure abstraction.
set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts
an attempt to discover the essence of art by reducing the elements of a work to basic shapes, materials and monochromatic surfaces, removing the appearance of composition from art
Ad Reinhardt, whose late paintings anticipate Minimalism, put it simply, ‘The more stuff in it, the busier the work of art, the worse it is. More is less. Less is more. The eye is a menace to clear sight. The laying bare of oneself is obscene. Art begins with the getting rid of nature.’
Notable artists: Frank Stella, Don Judd, Robert Morris, John McCracken and Sol LeWitt