Artists/Adolph Gottlieb

Adolph Gottlieb's engagement with the unconscious and symbolism in his art marked a significant phase in his career, deeply influenced by the cultural and historic upheavals of his time. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, as World War II raged, Gottlieb, alongside contemporaries like Mark Rothko, sought to create art that could express the complexities and anxieties of their era. This quest led to the development of his Pictographs series, a radical departure from his earlier work that intertwined Surrealist automatism with a new, abstract visual language imbued with symbolic meaning​ (Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation)​.

The Pictographs represent Gottlieb's exploration into the realms of the unconscious, drawing on the psychological theories of Freud and Jung, as well as his fascination with the art of ancient and non-Western cultures. These works featured a grid-like structure filled with symbolic images and forms that were derived from a deep, instinctual place, aiming to communicate beyond the literal to touch on the universal experiences of humanity​ (Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation)​.

Gottlieb's shift towards these themes was also a response to the limitations he saw in the prevailing art movements of his time. He sought to go beyond the mere depiction of the visible world, or the abstract explorations that did not engage with the emotional or psychological depth he deemed essential for art in such turbulent times. By incorporating elements of mythology, archaic symbols, and the subconscious, Gottlieb aimed to create a visual language that was both deeply personal and universally resonant, challenging viewers to engage with the artwork beyond surface-level interpretation​ (The Art Story)​​ (Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation)​.

Through his Pictographs and later works, Gottlieb underscored the importance of the viewer's role in completing the meaning of an artwork, suggesting that the interpretation of symbols and the engagement with the painting's themes were a collaborative process between the artist and the audience. This approach reflected a broader movement among Abstract Expressionists, who believed in the power of art to evoke shared human emotions and experiences, transcending cultural and historical barriers​ (Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation)​.

In essence, Gottlieb's work during this period encapsulates a profound meditation on the role of art as a conduit for expressing the inexpressible, marking a significant contribution to the development of Abstract Expressionism and the broader landscape of 20th-century art.

Adolph Gottlieb's perspective on abstraction as a form of realism emerges from his reflection on the artist's role as an image-maker, shaped by the socio-political context of his time. In the aftermath of World War II and amid the existential uncertainties of the Cold War era, Gottlieb viewed the abstract forms and symbols in his art not as a retreat from reality but as a more truthful representation of the contemporary human condition. He argued that in a world marked by violence, traditional niceties of color and form felt irrelevant, and the art that truly resonated was one that could confront and articulate the neuroses of its era. For Gottlieb, abstraction was a way to express the underlying forces and emotions of a society grappling with the constant presence of terror, fear, and the brutality of the natural world​ (Sothebys.com)​.

Gottlieb's journey toward developing a new visual language that could convey these complex themes began in earnest with his Pictograph series in the early 1940s. These works represented a significant departure from the European avant-garde movements, incorporating elements of non-Western imagery and mythology into a distinctive style that sought to engage with universal human experiences and emotions. As his art evolved, particularly with the introduction of his Burst paintings in the 1950s, Gottlieb continued to explore the expressive potential of color, form, and composition, creating works that invited viewers to find their own meanings within the abstract imagery​ (Fields of Abstraction Art)​.

Throughout his career, Gottlieb remained committed to the idea that art should reflect the reality of its time, using abstraction as a means to engage with and make sense of the world. His work challenges the notion that abstraction is a purely aesthetic or formalist endeavor, instead positioning it as a deeply meaningful and relevant mode of expression capable of capturing the essence of human experience in the 20th century​ (Fields of Abstraction Art)​​ (Sothebys.com)​​ (Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation)​.

Adolph Gottlieb's art was significantly influenced by non-Western traditions, which he integrated into his work to challenge the conventions of Western art. He was among the first artists of the New York School to engage deeply with elements of tribal art, drawn from cultures around the world. In the 1920s, Gottlieb began collecting tribal art, seeking to connect his creative expressions with a broader human history and to tap into a more universal language of visual forms​ (Fields of Abstraction Art)​.

His Pictograph series, notable for its incorporation of abstract and symbolic elements, reflects this influence. The images in these works, though not directly mimicking specific objects, echo the essence of female fertility figures, totems, and the abstract designs found in rock art. Gottlieb's use of simple and geometric forms, inspired by African sculpture and the textiles of Northwest Coast Indians, was not merely aesthetic. It was an endeavor to create a new artistic vocabulary that could speak across cultures and time periods, aiming for a universal visual language that could resonate with viewers beyond the specific cultural or historical context of the symbols used​ (The Art Story)​.

Through his engagement with non-Western imagery, Gottlieb was part of a broader movement among Abstract Expressionists who sought universal meanings in their art, especially in the aftermath of World War II. They looked to Primitivism not just as an aesthetic choice but as a way to explore foundational human experiences and emotions, seeking common ground among people in a time of isolation and upheaval. This turn to non-Western sources represented a quest for a more profound connection to a collective human past, as well as a critique of the alienation and fragmentation perceived in modern Western society​ (The Art Story)​.

Gottlieb's exploration of non-Western imagery was a deliberate attempt to redefine the subject matter of art to include one's deepest thoughts, feelings, and fears, providing them with a new form that could engage viewers on a fundamental level. This approach to art-making positioned Gottlieb as a pivotal figure in the development of Abstract Expressionism, highlighting his role in expanding the boundaries of contemporary art through the incorporation of a diverse range of influences​ (The Art Story)​.

Adolph Gottlieb's exploration of cosmic and natural landscapes in his art represents a significant aspect of his work, particularly evident in his "Imaginary Landscapes" and "Burst" series. The "Imaginary Landscapes," initiated in 1951 with The Frozen Sounds, marked a departure from his earlier Pictograph compositions. These works transitioned from an early form of all-over composition to a new abstraction strategy, using two contrasting horizontal registers. This approach allowed Gottlieb to explore abstraction in a manner that differed from the all-over method pursued by his contemporaries, leading to a series of "Imaginary Landscape" paintings in 1969, after his solo exhibitions at the Guggenheim and Whitney Museums​ (Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation)​.

The "Burst" paintings, evolving from the "Imaginary Landscapes," further simplified space and color, eliminating depth and horizon to focus solely on color and form. These paintings typically feature a glowing disc above a mass of dark, gestural brushstrokes, creating an effect that is both cosmic and deeply personal. In works like Blues (1962) and a Burst painting from 1973, Gottlieb experimented with emotional effects through color, focusing on the pulsating qualities of celestial blues or the warm glow of a red orb. This series highlights Gottlieb's interest in expressing intimate emotions through abstract forms, where the paintings could represent a sun, an atomic bomb, or other interpretations depending on the viewer's perception​ (The Art Story)​.

Gottlieb's work in these series reflects his continual pursuit to express the "emotional truth of the landscape" through a reduction to basic conceptual elements, bridging representation and pure minimalist abstraction. Interested in mythology, Carl Jung, and indigenous art, Gottlieb sought a universal visual language that could resonate with the fundamental human experience, as seen in a piece from 1952. This landscape, reduced to minimal abstract elements, exemplifies Gottlieb's approach to conveying the landscape's emotional essence through abstraction​ (HathiTrust Digital Library)​.

These explorations underscore Gottlieb's significant contributions to Abstract Expressionism and his unique approach to integrating cosmic and natural themes into his abstract compositions. His work invites viewers to engage with art on a deeply intuitive level, offering a space for personal and collective reflection on the natural world and our place within it.

Adolph Gottlieb's exploration of opposition and duality in his art is a central theme that pervades much of his work, especially evident in his "Burst" paintings developed from the mid-1950s. These pieces feature two main elements—a radiant orb above and a complex, dense mass below—which visually represent various forms of dualities such as day/night, body/soul, and masculine/feminine. These juxtapositions are not merely aesthetic; they delve deep into philosophical inquiries about nature, time, and the human condition​ (Burnaway)​​ (Wikipedia)​.

Gottlieb's "Burst" series simplifies his representation to these two disc shapes and winding masses, often interpreted as basic landscapes with a sun above and the ground below. Yet, the simplicity of these forms opens them up to more universal interpretations, bridging abstract art with the emotional and symbolic dimensions of human experience. This dualistic approach allowed Gottlieb to create new mythologies through his art, touching on concepts of infinity and eternal return, and engaging with the cyclical nature of time as explored in various philosophical and scientific paradigms​ (Wikipedia)​.

The opposition and duality in Gottlieb's works, particularly in paintings like "Duet," offer a rich territory for interpretation, inviting viewers to contemplate cosmic ambiguity and the potential of eternal recurrence. This exploration is not just an intellectual exercise but an emotional journey that reflects Gottlieb's belief in art's ability to convey emotional truths beyond optical facts or verbal thinking​ (Burnaway)​.

Gottlieb's commitment to expressing fundamental human experiences through the language of abstraction and his incorporation of universal symbols and themes have made his work a significant part of the Abstract Expressionist movement. His paintings serve as a testament to the complexity of thought and the depth of feeling that can be conveyed through the simple opposition of forms and colors, echoing his broader philosophical inquiries into nature, existence, and the cosmos​ (The Art Story)​​ (Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation)​.

Adolph Gottlieb's mastery of color and form in his art significantly contributes to the emotional power and depth of his work. His journey through Abstract Expressionism showcases a keen sensitivity to the emotional effects that colors and shapes can evoke. In pieces like "Blues" (1962) and his Burst paintings from the late 1950s onwards, Gottlieb developed a visual language that focuses on the simplification of space and color. These works are characterized by their lack of depth and horizon, which emphasizes the importance of color and form as the primary conveyors of emotion and meaning. The contrast between the intense, radiant colors and the dark, gestural brushstrokes creates a dynamic interplay that invites viewers to experience a range of emotional effects, from the subtle and mysterious to the intense and vibrant​ (The Art Story)​.

Gottlieb believed that visual images could convey emotional truths directly, bypassing the need for narrative or symbolic interpretation. This belief is evident in his statement about trying, through colors, forms, and lines, to express intimate emotions, suggesting that his paintings could represent anything from an atomic bomb to a sun, depending on the viewer's perception. This approach aligns with the broader goals of Abstract Expressionism, which sought to express complex thoughts and emotions through simplified forms and colors, bridging the poles of Color Field and Action Painting​ (Fields of Abstraction Art)​.

In creating his Pictographs, Gottlieb aimed for a primitive brutality, reflecting life's mixture of brutality and beauty. This intention drove him to explore formal problems and territories previously uncharted by his contemporaries, laying the groundwork for what would become known as Abstract Expressionism. His commitment to creating meaningful, personally resonant art in a fresh way challenged conventional ideas and established him as a pioneering figure in the movement. Gottlieb's Pictographs, devoid of narrative, emphasized the painting's physical presence and the role of the viewer in completing its meaning, showcasing the immediacy, non-narrative subject, and the intuitive composition that would come to define Abstract Expressionism​ (Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation)​.

These themes and approaches reflect Gottlieb's deep engagement with the emotional capacity of abstract art to communicate human experiences and emotions, underscoring his significant contribution to 20th-century American art.

Adolph Gottlieb's work is deeply imbued with existential concerns and reflections on the human condition, making him a significant figure in Abstract Expressionism. Throughout his career, Gottlieb grappled with the challenges and anxieties of his time, including the trauma of World War II, the threat of nuclear annihilation during the Cold War, and the existential dread that characterized much of the 20th century. His exploration of these themes was not just an artistic endeavor but also a philosophical inquiry into the nature of existence, the cosmos, and humanity's place within it.

Gottlieb's "Burst" paintings, which he developed later in his career, are emblematic of this existential inquiry. Featuring a sun-like orb above chaotic, gestural brushstrokes, these works suggest both cosmic landscapes and the profound dualities of creation and destruction, life and death. Gottlieb himself noted the ambiguity and multiplicity of meanings his paintings could convey, stating that they could represent an atomic bomb, a sun, or entirely different phenomena depending on the viewer's interpretation. This openness to interpretation underscores the existential themes of uncertainty and the search for meaning in an often incomprehensible world​ (Fields of Abstraction Art)​.

Moreover, Gottlieb's incorporation of symbolic elements and his engagement with the unconscious through Surrealist automatic drawing techniques highlight his interest in exploring deeper psychological and existential layers. Influenced by the psychological theories of Freud and Jung, as well as his exposure to non-Western imagery, Gottlieb aimed to create art that could express emotional truths and address fundamental human fears and desires​ (Fields of Abstraction Art)​.

Gottlieb's approach to abstraction—particularly his assertion that abstraction could serve as a form of realism for his time—reflects his belief in the artist's role as an image-maker who responds to the changing conditions and existential challenges of their era. His work embodies a commitment to exploring the depths of human experience, seeking to reveal the emotional and existential truths that lie beneath the surface of reality​ (Wikipedia)​.

Adolph Gottlieb's contributions to modern art are not only significant for their aesthetic innovation but also for their profound engagement with the existential concerns that define the human condition. His paintings invite viewers to reflect on their own place in the universe, the nature of existence, and the search for meaning in an often chaotic and uncertain world​ (The Art Story)​.