Pop art was a reaction against the abstract expressionism that had dominated the New York art scene in the 1940s and 1950s. Abstract expressionism was a genre of painting characterized by large, flat surfaces of color and texture, often with minimal or no representational images.
Pop art sought to challenge this by introducing images taken from popular culture such as advertising, television, and print media. The aim was to make art more accessible to a wider audience and to break down the barriers between “high” and “low” culture.
The emergence of pop art was seen as a subversive move against abstract expressionism, which had been embraced by many in the New York art world. Pop art rejected the idea of painting as an expression of emotion or inner experience and instead focused on creating works that were aesthetically pleasing yet still rooted in popular culture. This challenged established notions about what constituted “good” or “valid” art, and it also created an opportunity for artists to explore new subject matter that had previously been overlooked or disregarded.
Pop artists also sought to break down the notion that there were two distinct categories in the world of art – one for fine art and one for commercial or popular culture. They argued that commercial images such as advertisements could have artistic value if they were presented in an attractive way. This idea challenged the traditional hierarchy of cultural value that had been established by abstract expressionists who tended to view commercial culture as inferior.
Pop artists also rejected abstract expressionism’s focus on individual experience, instead opting for images that could be shared by a larger audience. They believed that art should be accessible to everyone, not just those with specialized knowledge or training in aesthetics.
Conclusion:
Pop Art was a reaction against Abstract Expressionism because it sought to challenge established notions about what constituted “good” or “valid” art, break down the notion of two distinct categories in terms of fine vs commercial/popular culture, focus on creating works rooted in popular culture rather than individual experience, and make artwork accessible to everyone regardless of specialized knowledge or training.