Minimalism

Minimalism emerged primarily in the United States during the 1960s, as artists sought to create works characterized by an extreme simplicity of form and a deliberate lack of expressive content. The movement, rooted in the post-World War II era, emphasized the use of simple geometric shapes and a restricted color palette to achieve purity and clarity of composition. Notable minimalist artists include Donald Judd, Agnes Martin, and Sol LeWitt, whose works exemplify the movement's aesthetic of impersonality and objective approach to art creation.

Minimalism's impact extended beyond visual art into sculpture, where it further stripped down the art object to its fundamental shapes and materials, often engaging the viewer in the physical space of the artwork. This can be seen in Carl Andre's Lever, a stark arrangement of firebricks, and in the reflective surfaces of Robert Morris's mirrored cubes, which provoke an interactive experience. These artists utilized industrial materials like aluminum, steel, and Plexiglas, highlighting Minimalism's focus on the materials' physical properties rather than representational qualities.

The approach of "what you see is what you see" coined by Frank Stella captures the essence of Minimalism — a direct, literal presentation that resists interpretation beyond its visible attributes. The movement has been both influential and controversial, drawing criticism for its perceived lack of depth and challenged by formalist critics who saw it as a departure from the traditional values of art. Nonetheless, the minimalist aesthetic continues to influence contemporary art and design, emphasizing an economy of form that speaks to the essentials of color, shape, and space.

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