American Masterpieces to Know
Soon after the end of World War II, New York replaced Paris as the arts capital. From then on, the United States played a key role in the creation of modern and postmodern artistic movements. In response to European imperialism, much of American art seeks to challenge the traditions of the European art world. Many American artists have experienced controversies, while being pioneers of avant-garde artistic movements, such as abstract impressionism, pop-art and neo-expressionism. First criticized, then admired, their masterpieces shaped the art of the twentieth century.
Today, more than 100,000 artists are working in New York City and trying to get noticed by the 1,500 galleries there. The city is full of internationally celebrated and admired personalities, whose masterpieces are recognized all over the world. Artsper invites you to discover its selection of the greatest American masterpieces of all time.
No.5 by Jackson Pollock
This masterpiece by Jackson Pollock is undoubtedly the culmination of his remarkable career. He painted it in 1948, coinciding with abstract expressionism and imposing himself as a crucial contributor to the movement. Deviating from the traditional application of paint, Pollock used his now famous technique of «dripping» with brilliant enamel to create this painting. The first reactions to this work were negative, with critics comparing his manipulation of the painting to that of a «cooked macaroni». However, it has become the most expensive and famous work of the artist!
Eight Elvis by Andy Warhol
This painting presents eight overlapping images of Elvis Presley, silkscreened on a silver background. This painting reproduces all the elements characteristic of a work of art by Warhol, a leading figure of the important pop movement Art. Indeed, she uses the fascination for celebrities, the repetition of the image and the striking use of color. This painting was not produced in series like most of the artist’s works. On the contrary, it is known for its elusive character… The work has not been seen in public since the 1960s and its location remains unknown! Despite this, it remains a prominent emblem of the Pop Art movement.
Untitled by Jean-Michel Basquiat
This painting is an emblematic work of the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, pioneer of neo-expressionism and raw art. The style of this work is representative of Basquiat’s style, especially by the violence that emerges from it. Indeed, like most of his works, Sans titre presents morbid and macabre aspects. One feels the palpable anguish of this toothless skull and the chaos of the letters scribbled on the painting. The spectator faces with emotion the creative energy of the artist. Moreover, critics consider this work as one of its masterpieces because of its intensity, which is the quintessence of Basquiat.
American Gothic by Grant Wood
This work is one of the most recognizable in this list. His fame comes from the many parodies of pop culture that popularized the work. American Gothic is a key work of the American realism movement. She depicts a worried-looking woman and an austere-looking man in front of their atypical “Midwest” home. The structural depth of the image and the very detailed and careful style of the subjects always captivate the viewer. Originally the artist intends to make a positive statement about American rural values. However, many people understand this photo as a satirical commentary on the character of the Midwest. Her influence on popular culture has made her a masterpiece.
Erased by Kooning Drawing by Robert
Robert Rauschenberg’s 1953 work, Kooning Drawing’s Erased, is an exceptional example of a neo-Dadadaist conceptual work. The very principle of this movement is that the process of creation is the main aspect of the work of art. To create his masterpiece, Rauschenberg asked William de Kooning for a drawing with the intention of erasing it. However, Kooning’s drawing was very hard, and Rauschenberg took more than a month to erase it using different erasers. Then, his artist friend and neo-dadaist colleague Jasper Johns framed and captioned the work. This 6-handed masterpiece is significant, as it paved the way for neo-dadaism and involved many important artists.
Best Buddies by Keith Haring
Keith Haring is known for his stylized, childish graffiti. His rise to success coincided with the growing popularity of graffiti culture in New York in the 1980s. His murals, both colourful and large-scale, often address social and political themes, for example, he took a stand in the fight against apartheid, on drugs, the AIDS crisis or the defense of homosexuality. Best Buddies is another example of his activism through his art. In 1990, the artist created and donated the work to the charity Best Buddies, which works internationally to support people with disabilities and developmental disabilities.
