Paths to the Absolute

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In this exploration of the origins and evolution of abstraction in twentieth-century painting, John Golding examines the ambitions and careers of seven influential artists, each driven by the pursuit of a new pictorial truth or visual absolute. The discussion includes three pioneering abstract painters from Europe—Piet Mondrian, Kasimir Severinovich Malevich, and Vasily Kandinsky—and four leading American figures—Jackson Pollock, Barnett Newman, Mark Rothko, and Clyfford Still—who redefined abstraction in the 1940s and 1950s. Golding selects key works from each artist to illustrate their departure from figurative painting, analyzing aspects such as color, medium, content, and scale. He provides comparative material that highlights stylistic influences, particularly the significant impact of Cubism on the European painters. This work is based on a series of A. W. Mellon Lectures in Fine Arts delivered at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Richly illustrated and offering insightful historical context and personal perspectives of the artists, this book presents a scholarly yet accessible understanding of the depth and meaning of abstract art.