Prior to the 20th century these abstract elements were employed by artists to describe, illustrate, or reproduce the world of nature and of human civilization—and exposition dominated over expressive function. Abstract art in its strictest sense has its origins in the 19th century.

What did Wassily Kandinsky say about abstract art?

“In Concerning the Spiritual in Art (1911) Kandinsky drew an analogy between abstract painting and music, commenting that ‘music has been for some centuries the art which has devoted itself not to the reproduction of natural phenomena, but rather to the expression of the artist’s soul, in musical sound. ‘”

Why did you choose abstract painting?

Abstract art gives you the freedom to explore the artwork and assign your own meaning to the piece. This intensely personal process enriches a viewer’s experience of an artwork. … Abstract art can also make people uneasy because they don’t automatically know what the art is “about” just by a cursory glance.