What is Tachisme?
Tachisme is a French abstract painting style that gained popularity between 1940 and 1950, often seen as the European counterpart to Abstract Expressionism. However, there are stylistic differences between the two. Tachisme, which emerged from Art Informel, rejected geometric abstraction in favor of more intuitive and spontaneous expression. It was a reaction against the structured forms of Cubism and is closely related to Informalism. Tachisme emphasizes gestural brushwork, irregular forms, and a focus on the process of painting itself.
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ARTWORKS RELATED TO TACHISME
Papier-mâché is a composite material made from pieces of paper or pulp, reinforced with textiles and bound with adhesives like starch, wallpaper paste, or glue. There are two main methods to create papier-mâché: one involves layering strips of paper soaked in adhesive, while the other uses a pulp made by boiling or soaking paper and then adding glue. Though each method has a different process, both yield similar results.
A body print is an art technique where the artist uses their body as a printing plate. This can be done by smearing grease, margarine, or oil on the skin, hair, and clothes, then pressing the body against a surface like paper. The oiled imprint is then dusted with pigment. Unlike a self-portrait, a body print explores two competing concepts of identity rather than capturing a likeness of the artist. The method emphasizes the physicality of the body while questioning the boundaries between self-representation and abstraction.
Oil on board is a painting technique where oil paint is applied to either wood panels that have been sanded and primed or high-density cardboard covered with canvas. These surfaces offer the advantage of being more compact for storage compared to traditional stretched canvas on frames, while still providing a stable surface for painting.