What is meant by "form is content" in terms of painting and art history?

Question

Is this a term that derived from abstract expressionism and Clememt Greenberg? Explain.

Answer 1

Hmm...well the content of art has changed throughout history and usually dictated the form. A historical piece meant to depict a specific event might be painted in a realistic or classical manner using mythological figures to illustrate a crucial event (though Picasso also used an abstract/cubist style to depict war in his historical "Guernica"). Impressionist artists trying to capture the moment & the effects of light on surfaces used a form that fit the content: dappled, lively brushstrokes. Expressionists (often depicting figures, self-portraits) use colour, tone, exaggeration and passionate painting style to convey emotion and the essence of the person.

With purely abstract non-representational art, the content is often unclear. What exactly are they representing? Not always recognizable. In some cases, there may be no actual "content," subject or deeper meaning to a piece other than the brushstrokes, the paint itself. To say that "form is content" suggests that a painting doesn't have to be anything other than itself. Abstract shapes, patterns, colours & forms on a canvas are themselves the content.

Answer 2

i could not have suggested it extra constructive myself, Jacky. i do not spend a lot time on photo paintings anymore, yet i determined about six months in the past or so that you would possibly want to get decrease back into playing and writing song. ''Mankind has the inherent opt to precise.'' this is curious to me that I hardly ever well known that want consciously. i'm no longer a lyricist; i'm an absolute musician. by technique of that, I advise that I play and write song for the sake of playing and writing song, or a minimum of it is what I tell myself. this is no longer very frequently that i will sit down down and write a chunk of song with the conception of expressing something in recommendations, yet it is what I continually finally end up doing subconsciously, however if this is carried out in difficulty-free words vaguely. i do not comprehend even if I by some ability percentage my thoughts by ability of my songs because i have been informed it is what song is for, or if i have been informed to communicate my thoughts by ability of my song by using the indisputable fact that finally occurs to all ''absolute'' musicians. Ponderous, guy. somewhat ponderous... Peace, Drew

Answer 3

Presumably that the form defines the content. Impressionistic form yields impressionistic paintings, and only the content so suited is successfully depicted.