In the 1930s, Adolph Gottlieb's artistic journey was marked by experimentation and a deep engagement with the social and cultural upheavals of the time. The early part of the decade saw Gottlieb continuing his exploration of modernist art, influenced by his travels in Europe and exposure to the avant-garde movements of Fauvism and Cubism. His work from this period reflects a synthesis of these influences, combining the bold color of Fauvism with the abstracted forms of Cubism​ (Wikipedia)​. 1935 was a pivotal year for Gottlieb, marked by his co-founding of "The Ten," a group of artists devoted to expressionist and abstract painting. This group represented a rebellion against the conservative tendencies of American art at the time, advocating instead for a more expressive and abstract visual language​ (Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation)​. Gottlieb's involvement with "The Ten" signified his commitment to exploring new forms of expression and breaking away from traditional artistic conventions. Gottlieb's travels in Europe, particularly his visit to Belgium to view artifacts from the Belgian Congo, had a profound impact on his work, introducing him to non-Western forms of art that would influence his later abstract and symbolic imagery​ (Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation)​. This period was also marked by significant personal and professional challenges, including the economic difficulties of the Great Depression and the rising tensions in Europe. Despite these challenges, Gottlieb continued to develop his artistic voice, experimenting with form, color, and composition. By the late 1930s, Gottlieb had begun to move towards more abstract and symbolic work, setting the stage for his later contributions to Abstract Expressionism. His paintings from this period began to incorporate elements that would become central to his pictographs in the 1940s, including an interest in primitive art and a focus on symbolic imagery​ (Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation)​. Throughout the 1930s, Gottlieb's art reflected a dynamic engagement with the artistic and political landscapes of his time. His work from this decade showcases the evolution of his style from the influences of European modernism to the beginnings of his own unique approach to abstraction, laying the foundation for his significant contributions to American art in the following decades.