Abstraction-Création

Abstraction-Création was an association of abstract artists set up in Paris in 1931 with the aim of promoting abstract art through group exhibitions

Related terms and concepts
Selected artists in the Collection
Selected artworks in the Collection

Auguste Herbin
*Nude* (1960)
Tate

© ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2023

The leaders of Abstraction-Création were Auguste Herbin and Georges Vantongerloo, but every major abstract painter took part including such figures as Naum Gabo, Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian, and it rapidly acquired membership of around four hunded.

Abstraction-Création embraced the whole field of abstract art, but tended towards the more austere forms represented by concrete art, constructivism and neo-plasticism. Regular exhibitions were held until 1936 and five annual publications were issued.

In Britain members of the modernist groupings the Seven and Five Society and Unit One, kept in close touch with Abstraction-Création. Their chief members were Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Paul Nash and John Piper.

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Concrete art

Concrete art is abstract art that is entirely free of any basis in observed reality and that has no symbolic meaning
Constructivism

Constructivism was a particularly austere branch of abstract art founded by Vladimir Tatlin and Alexander Rodchenko in Russia around 1915
Abstract art

Abstract art is art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead use shapes, colours, forms and gestural marks to achieve its effect
Neo-plasticism

Neo-plasticism is a term adopted by the Dutch pioneer of abstract art, Piet Mondrian, for his own type of abstract painting which used only horizontal and vertical lines and primary colours
Modernism

Modernism refers to a global movement in society and culture that from the early decades of the twentieth century sought a new alignment with the experience and values of modern industrial life. Building on late nineteenth-century precedents, artists around the world used new imagery, materials and techniques to create artworks that they felt better reflected the realities and hopes of modern societies.
The Seven and Five Society

Formed in London in 1919 The Seven and Five Society was initially a traditional group and can be seen as a British manifestation of the return to order that followed the First World War
Unit One

British group formed by Paul Nash in 1933 to promote modern art, architecture and design