Exhibit:
The shift from Abstract Expressionism in the 1940s to Pop Art in the 1960s refelcted societal changes influenced by postwar consumerism, technological advancements, and the rise of mass media.
While Abstract Expressionism emphasized emotional intensity and individual expression, Pop Art used bold, familiar imagery and commercial aesthetics to critique violence and address pressing social issues, using irony to engage a wider audience in anti-war and nonviolence messages. Pop Art also functioned as a protest against the perceived elitism of Abstract Expressionism, which, with its detachment from reality, was seen as inaccessible to the general public. Pop Art grounded its imagery in the real world, allowing viewers to connect more directly with their contemporary experience.