Abstract Expressionism Aaron Siskind

Aaron siskind was a teacher editor and photographer who was best known for his innovations in abstract photography.

Abstract expressionism aaron siskind. Aaron siskind was a photographer with a graphic artists eye best known for his abstract expressionist photographs he was associated with the abstract expressionist school of new york art movement in the 1940s and 50s which included close friends franz kline barrett newman adolph gottlieb and mark rothko. But it was the accidental landing of a camera in his hand when he had his first stint at photography. In these later photographs he continued to emphasize the modernist concern with the flatness of the picture plane but intensified his approach to picture making with close up framing as well as emphasis on texture. In the early 1940s he began photographing patterns and textures of such mundane subjects such as coiled ropes footprints in sand and seaweed.

Subjects were pitted on this two dimensional plane and the original forms of the items were transformed. Though flattened on a photographic surface he nonetheless conveyed texture depth and perspective. Siskinds abstract expressionism was defined by his close ups of inanimate objects. In these photographs three dimensional items began to look two dimensional.

In his abstract pieces siskind strived to include the same formal aesthetic qualities one might find in an abstract expressionist painting. He is considered to be closely involved with if not a part of the abstract expressionist movement and with harry callahan one of the greatest artist photographers in history. Abstract expressionism became the style that would define his photography. He studied literature and enjoyed poetry and music as a child.

His photographs were often displayed along with abstract expressionist painters. He showed all traits of growing up to be a writer. Aaron siskind december 4 1903 february 8 1991 was an american photographer. Aaron siskind was an american photographer whose work focuses on the details of things presented as flat surfaces to create a new image independent of the original subject.

The abstract work for which siskind became best known developed from his attempt to express his own states of mind in photography rather than simply to record subject matter. Siskind also identified with the ideas and styles of the abstract expressionist artists in new york in the 1940s. Aaron siskinds early work as a social documentary photographer is best seen in his contributions to the harlem document 1932 40 a survey of life in harlem. Aaron siskind inspired by abstract expressionism influenced by abstract expressionism and in particular the paintings of franz kline aaron siskind dedicated himself to photographing details of nature and architecture with a focus on the texture lines and patterns.

A large kline painting is the highlight of that series. Though the marks were not made by his own actions he nonetheless expressed energy and the power of physical gestures.