Minimalism

Less Is More!

* Minimal Art emerged as a movement in the 1950s and continued through the
Sixties and Seventies. It is a term used to describe paintings and sculpture that
thrive on simplicity in both content and form, and seek to remove any sign of
personal expressivity. The aim of Minimalism is to allow the viewer to experience the
work more intensely without the distractions of composition, theme and so on.

There are examples of the Minimalist theory being exercised as early as the 18th
century when Goethe constructed an Altar of Good Fortune made simply of a stone
sphere and cube. But the 20th century sees the movement come into its own. From
the 1920s artists such as Malevich and Duchamp produced works in the Minimalist
vein but the movement is known chiefly by its American exponents such as Dan
Flavin, Carl Andre, Ellsworth Kelly and Donald Judd who reacted against Abstract
Expressionism in their stark canvases, sculptures and installations.

Minimal Art proved highly successful and has been enormously influential on the
development of art in the 20th century.

• The Minimalist movement began in the 1950’s and continued through to the 60’s
and 70’s. Minimal art is characterized by its simplicity in both form and content,
where personal expression is removed in order to achieve this. The intention of
minimalist artists is to allow the audience to view a composition more intensely
because the distractions of theme etc. have been removed. Minimalism can be
detected as early as the 18th century where the artist Goethe constructed an Alatar
of Good Fortune that consisted of a stone sphere and a cube. In addition, in the
1920’s artists such as Malevich and Duchamp created works that suggested at
minimalist intentions. The Minimalist movement is similar to Conceptual Art in
that the outcome is used to express a theory. Minimalism is also similar to Pop
Art because of the impersonal attitude, and Land Art because of the use of simple
forms. Minimalist artists of the time reacted against Abstract Expressionism,
which is demonstrated by the stark canvases, simple installations, and minimalist
sculptures. Some of the most famous minimalist artists include Dan Flavin, Carl
Andre, Donald Judd, and Ellsworth.
Introduction to the History of Minimalism
Purity in art can be achieved through simplicity and unity. Minimalism is a primarily
American art movement often characterized as a reaction to the Second World War.
This style surfaced in early works like Kasimir Malevitch’s Black Cross (1915), but
especially in American art works in the 1950s and 1960s. These simple works used
minimal techniques to communicate more what the artist felt in response to the war
or another issue than it reflected the artist’s technical capabilities.

The Minimalist work’s absence of pizzazz in technique allows the viewer to become
immediately part of the canvas. The art composition is simplified by reducing the
number of colors, lines, values, textures, and shapes so that the observer can readily
identify the central concept or message. The experience of wondering what the
painting means is absent. The works of the American artist, Frank Stella, provide a
great example of Minimalism.

In 1936, the printmaker and painter Frank Stella was born in Malden, Massachusetts.
He obtained a bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University. In the college
years, he had the opportunity to visit NYC art galleries and react to the colorful and
magnificent works of Abstract Expressionist artists like Jackson Pollock. Stella
responded with creative, almost commercial, works in 1959-1960 that minimized
forms to basic elements.

The Museum of Modern Art houses Stella’s The Marriage of Reason and Squalor, II
(1959). The viewer sees in Marriage one of the many examples of Black Paintings
that Stella created around this time. Stella used black enamel (reflecting his choice as
a commercial paint) and a housepainter’s brush. Heavy black stripes alternate with
white pinstripes (blank canvas) in a uniform pattern that starkly contrasts with the
vivid splashes of paint used by the Abstract Expressionists. In Six Mile Bottom
(1960) in the Tate Collection, the viewer observes a grey, geometric composition
using metallic paint that radiates outward from a small, black rectangle in the center.
Stella noted in 1964, “All I want anyone to get out of my paintings and all I ever get
out of them is the fact that you can see the whole idea without any confusion.”

Some Minimalist works were not as heavy on geometry as Stella’s early works. Even
his works bordered on three-dimensional because his painting surfaces were
stretched in a thick manner. The Minimalist tradition would continue for the rest of
the twentieth century and expand into sculpture and architecture.
Famous Artists Of Minimalism

Chronological Listing of Minimalists

Use ctrl-F (PC) or command-F (Mac) to search for a name

1886-
John Graham Ukrainian/American Painter
1961

1905-
Barnett Newman American Painter
1970

Art Prints
1912-
Agnes Martin Canadian/American Painter
2004
1912-
Tony Smith American Sculptor
1980
1913-
Ad Reinhardt American Painter
1967
1921-
Anne Truitt American Sculptor
2004

Born
Ellsworth Kelly American Painter/Sculptor
1923

Art Prints
 1928-
Donald Judd American Sculptor
1994

Art Prints

1928-
Sol LeWitt American Conceptual Artist
2007

Art Prints
Born
Jo Baer American Painter
1929

Born
Robert Morris American
1931

Art Prints

1933-
Dan Flavin American Installation Artist
1996

Art Prints
Born
Carl Andre American Sculptor
1935
Robert Born
American Painter
Moskowitz 1935
1936- German/American
Eva Hesse
1970 Painter/Sculptor
 Born
Frank Stella American Painter/Sculptor
1936

Art Prints
Born
Robert Mangold American Painter
1937

Born
Brice Marden American Painter
1938

Art Prints

Born
Richard Serra American Sculptor
1939

Art Prints

Born
Keith Sonnier American
1941

Art Prints
Born
Peter Halley American Painter
1953
Faye Born Native Canadian Installation
HeavyShield 1953 Artist
 Minimalism In Fashion

Chic of minimalism

Some ladies misinterpret the word «minimalism» in most references. This is not
minimizing of garments to wear as the mini skirt followers believe. This style is often
loved after the age of careless youth, when a woman realizes that stylish and flamboyant
clothes are not what she longs for to look chic and elegant. When she perceives that all is
not gold that glitters, she refers to more laconic style of her attire.

There may be people who would speculate whether the minimalism style is essential with
the loads of vivid details and accessories on the market available. Though the opinion
that self-expression is impossible without accessories, juicy prints and patterns, attractive
style is wrong. Just remember Audrey Hepburn who was the muse for Givenchy House
and the admirer of the elegant minimalist style to disprove the opinion. The dark color,
straight lines, a lace of pearl is enough for a «lady» to become legendary as an actress and
an icon of style. The same refers to Jacqueline Kennedy who is believed to be the
standard of elegance. These women realized that they had to accentuate to the strict
elegant classic style.

Modern classic style

Minimalism in apparel should not be interpreted too narrow. Today fashion designers do
not stint themselves in only classic motifs like a little black dress, sheath dress, white
shirt and a pencil-skirt, as well as the basic set of jeans and white top of casual style. The
modern fashion provides more freedom and more challenges to the consumers than it was
a half of century ago.

Moderate style or lack of too pronounced accents is one of the key rules to follow for the
admirers of laconic style. The skirt is getting more temperate, without any folds, patterns
and floral prints. Pencil-skirt is not one to be limited, balloon skirts are allowed either and
here the opaque and rich or supple faded shade should be provided. Blouses and tops
come without pompous jabot and jackets are available without those high shoulders that
are in. The sexual half-transparency is welcome. The silhouette is tight-fitting or semi-
fitted though the flowing but not puffy bottom is also allowed. Flounces, ruches and
patch-pockets are excluded.

The color gamut is the factor that should be considered carefully. When single-color
attire is chosen, then a slight contrasting accent is welcome like a thin waistband of the
other color or a brooch or an elegant pendant. Two colors are possible to match when the
upper wear is of one color and the bottom is of the other color, or when the colors are
blended to create the pattern. The prints and smaller patterns are not recommended.
The smooth and even material is one of the requirements of the minimalism style. Silk
and satin exclude the prints and accessories. The balance is essential to keep since
bijouterie or a fashionable print or jewelry comes as the accent to work independently
excluding others.

Masters of laconic style

You are welcome to build your style by yourself, trying this or that and creating the
individuality in laconism. Though, you may refer to the reputed fashionable brands that
work in this style for many years like Helmut Lang, Calvin Klein, DKNY and Narciso
Rodrigues.

The Austrian designer Helmut Lang built his career inspired with the image of the naïve
elegance and defencelessness. Any collection by Helmut Lang offers the models for a
woman who longs for the highest chic. Calvin Klein always dares to experiment with the
style compensating with the purest smoothness of models. The silhouettes by Narciso
Rodrigues are more laconic though several colors are also applied without breaking the
harmony. The collections by DKNY allow the particular freedom matching different
colors and textures. Nevertheless, they find their niche in the business dress-code and the
fashionable minimalism.

Lots of Hollywood celebrities are among the admirers of this Spartan style. They are
people who can allow everything or almost everything to enjoy though they prefer
something rather unpretentious but highly stylish.

Gwyneth Kate Paltrow aka Miss Minimalism was awarded her prize wearing an
incredible dress by Ralph Lauren of the subtle and gender pink color. Charlize Theron
appeared for the Oscar Award wearing a vintage golden dress by Gucci which ideally sat
on her.

In 2010 at the ceremony of the Golden Globe celebrities appeared in dresses which were
the total minimalism style models and among them was the black asymmetric dress by
Valentino chosen by Jennifer Linn Aniston. As in most cases at the solemn functions, the
dress was not decorated with embroidery and accessories which only accentuated the
temperate and delicate style of the actress.