REVIEW QUESTIONS
CHAPTER 17–“ART FROM THE FIFTIES TO THE PRESENT”
Lesson 17.1–Abstract Expressionism
1Explain what the term abstract expressionism means.
2Why did so many European artists move to New York City during the late 1930s and early 1940s?
What style did these artists begin in the United States?
3List six abstract expressionists. After each artist’s name, write three words or short phrases to
describe his or her art.
4Why was de Kooning known as an Action Painter?
5Describe Jackson Pollock’s drip painting method.
Lesson 17.2–Pop Art and Op Art
1How did the Pop Art movement get its name? List some of the leaders in this movement.
2What is Op Art? How did Op Art artists create a sense of movement within their paintings?
3Select an Op Art painting to stare at for a full minute. Describe your feelings at the end of the minute.
4How many times larger than life is Oldenburg’s Falling Shoestring Potatoes?
5In Jasper John’s paintings, what is he encouraging the viewer to notice? In Numbers in Color, what
means does he use to focus our attention on his subject?
6What do most of Roy Lichtenstein’s paintings resemble? How are they different from his source of
inspiration?
7What was the underlying message in Warhol’s 100 Cans? What means did he use to apply the paint
to his canvases?
8Describe the method that Segal used to produce the figures in Walk, Don’t Walk. What are the
people doing in this sculpture?
Lesson 17.3–Color Field Painting
1How do the Color Field painters cause viewers to notice their paintings and then to react with them?
2Why is Barnett Newman’s art described as minimal art and cool art?
3What is the point in minimal art such as Barnett Newman’s Adam? What is the artist trying to get the
viewer to see?
4Who was one of the first artists to paint on shaped canvases? Which artist used shaped canvases
even more extensively?
5How does Ellsworth Kelly make the hard edges in his paintings such as Blue Curve III?
6How many protractors can you count in Stella’s Protractor Variation?
7What was Adolph Gottlieb’s design concern as he painted the different shapes in Orb?
8Would either Frank Stella’s Protractor Variation or Sam Francis’ Basel Mural fit on your bedroom wall?
Lesson 17.4–New Realism
1Give several names for the extremely realistic art movement that began in the 1970s. List a few
artists involved in this movement.
2How does Chuck Close use photography in his work? What is he trying to achieve in his painting?
3How does James Rosenquist’s Nomad differ from Andy Warhol’s style of Pop Art?
4Describe how Duane Hanson creates his sculptures. How are his sculptures like and different from
George Segal’s?
Lesson 17.5–Sculpture
1Where is Isamu Noguchi’s Great Rock of Inner Seeking? What is its mood or feeling? Of what Asian
cultures is the viewer reminded?
2Write three words that come to mind as you view Henry Moore’s Sheep Piece. What nationality is
Moore?
3What is unusual about Barbara Hepworth’s Assembly of Sea Forms?
4How did Louise Nevelson create unity in her sculpture Homage to the World?
5With what medium did David Smith create? Where did he learn to use these materials? Write a
sentence describing Cubi XII.
Lesson 17.6–New Directions
1Describe one of the Christos’ projects. How do you feel about this creation?
2Describe Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party. What cause does the artist support in this art?
3What type of art does Red Grooms create? Name some materials he uses in his art.
4What are some questions the viewer should consider when approaching contemporary art?
5What are some of the symbols and messages in Jaune Quick-to-See Smith’s I See Red: Ten Little
Indians?
6Explain what you think The Wait means in Edward Kienholz’s environment? What are some clues to the woman’s feelings?
7What event in Joseph Beuys’ life motivated him to be concerned about the future of humanity?
8Do you see any similarities in themes shared by some of the art in this New Frontiers section?