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Abstract Expressionism emerged in the mid-20th century, dominating American art throughout the 1940s and 1950s. This movement represented a radical break from traditional European painting styles, emphasizing spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation. It is characterized by non-representational imagery and an emphasis on texture, color, and brushstroke. Two primary approaches define Abstract Expressionism: Action Painting and Color Field painting. Action Painting, spearheaded by Jackson Pollock, involves a dynamic application of paint, often using innovative techniques like dripping or splattering. The canvas becomes a record of the artist's physical gestures. Conversely, Color Field painting focuses on large fields of flat, solid color to create areas of unbroken surface and a sense of vastness. Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman are key figures in this approach. The movement was influenced by various sources, including Surrealism's emphasis on the unconscious mind, the Mexican muralists' large-scale works, and Asian calligraphy's expressive brushwork. Abstract Expressionism also laid the groundwork for subsequent developments in abstract art, influencing movements such as Lyrical Abstraction, Color Field painting, and Washington Color School. Despite its seemingly non-representational nature, Abstract Expressionism is deeply rooted in human emotion and experience. The artists' inner worlds are expressed through bold strokes, vibrant colors, and textured surfaces, creating powerful and thought-provoking artworks that continue to resonate today.