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abstractionism

American  
[ab-strak-shuh-niz-uhm] / æbˈstræk ʃəˌnɪz əm /

noun

Fine Arts.
  1. the practice and theory of abstract art.


abstractionism British  
/ æbˈstrækʃəˌnɪzəm /

noun

  1. the theory and practice of the abstract, esp of abstract art

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of abstractionism

1905–10, for an earlier sense; abstraction + -ism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Mr. Khrushchev, who had simple tastes and was facing serious political challenges, flew into a rage against abstractionism and made threats of coercion.

From New York Times Apr. 1, 2017

Harris's book tells the story of English art's journey away from pure abstractionism to a tactile, particularising concern with the local and the contingent, with "stones and leaves".

From The Guardian Dec. 2, 2010

Because the paintings of these founding fathers were mostly abstract, art historians have generally argued that Abstract Expressionism was a descendant of analytical Cubism, or the abstractionism of Russia's Wassily Kandinsky.

From Time Magazine Archive

His haphazard Driving Away is the sort of painting that drives people away from abstractionism.

From Time Magazine Archive

It almost reconciles one to being no logician that one thereby escapes so much abstractionism.

From Meaning of Truth by William James

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