Minimalism: back to basics

Minimalism is a bit like deciding to declutter your room. No frills, no excess, just the essentials. Minimalism was born in the 1960s in the United States. It is one of the major artistic movements of the 20th century . This movement rejects all narrative or excessive emotion to focus on the purity of forms and materials. A white square on a white background? A simple line in space? Yes, that's minimalism. Behind this apparent simplicity lies an intense reflection on perception, matter, and the relationship between the artwork and its environment.

This article takes you on a journey to discover this radical movement, its major figures such as Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, Agnes Martin, Frank Stella, and Sol LeWitt, and its influences that extend far beyond museums. Indeed, minimalism is not limited to visual art; it has shaped many other fields.

Explore "Sol LeWitt's Wall Drawing at the Gemeentemuseum, an artwork that illustrates this artist's geometric and conceptual approach to minimalism.
"Mural drawing by Sol LeWitt at the Gemeentemuseum: a minimalist artwork with geometric patterns and precise lines, typical of the artist's conceptual style.

The origins of minimalism

Before existing as a movement, minimalism was part of a long tradition of research into pure form and abstraction. We can trace it back to the Suprematists like Kasimir Malevich and his famous "Black Square on a White Background" (1915), or to the Russian Constructivists and the Bauhaus, who advocated a functional and geometric approach to art.

But it was especially in the 1950s that the groundwork was laid with the abstract expressionism of Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Their works are vast, immersive, but also highly emotionally charged. Minimalism would take the opposite approach to this lyrical outpouring by reducing the artwork to its most fundamental elements.

A rebellion against abstract expressionism

Minimalism officially emerged in the 1960s, championed by artists who rejected subjectivity and expressive gesture. Instead of the painter's personal touch, simple, often geometric, industrially produced forms were favored. The idea was that the artwork should exist without seeking to tell a story or convey personal emotion.

The major figures of minimalism

Donald Judd

Donald Judd is one of the pioneers of minimalism. His "Specific Objects" consist of simple geometric shapes made of metal or plexiglass. He wanted his works to exist without symbolism or narrative.

Dan Flavin

Dan Flavin revolutionized installation art with his fluorescent neon lights. His work explores the relationship between light, space, and perception, radically transforming the spaces where his works are installed.

Agnes Martin

Agnes Martin is known for her subtle and meditative paintings. Her canvases, often composed of grids and delicate lines, aim to evoke a feeling of serenity and contemplation.

Painting "White Flower" by Agnes Martin, textured white square on an orange background, minimalist and meditative work.*
"White Flower" by Agnes Martin is an iconic work by the artist, known for her minimalist and meditative compositions. This painting, with its warm orange background and subtly textured white central square, embodies Martin's quest for simplicity and serenity.

Frank Stella

Frank Stella is famous for his paintings with precise geometric shapes. His minimalist work excludes any figurative reference and emphasizes the purity of form and color.

Sol LeWitt

Sol LeWitt developed the concept of "conceptual art" in relation to minimalism. He created wall-mounted works executed according to precise instructions, foregrounding the idea rather than the artist's hand.

The industrial and impersonal aesthetic of minimalism

One of the defining characteristics of minimalism is its use of raw, industrial materials: steel, aluminum, glass, plastic, neon… Gone is the touch of the painter or sculptor; here, works are often produced in factories or according to strict protocols. The artist becomes a designer rather than a craftsman.

This results in works that are often monumental, imposing in their scale and physical presence. The interaction between the work and the viewer becomes essential: it is not just a matter of "looking" at a painting, but of moving around a sculpture, of feeling the space it occupies.

Influences and legacies of minimalism

Minimalism has transcended the strict confines of the visual arts to influence numerous fields:

  • In architecture : Figures like Mies van der Rohe or Tadao Ando have applied minimalist principles to the construction of clean spaces, with clear lines and simple materials.
  • In design : We find the minimalist influence in furniture (the creations of Dieter Rams, for example), but also in the aesthetics of high-tech products, such as those of Apple.
  • In music : Philip Glass and Steve Reich developed repetitive music, based on simple motifs that evolve slowly.

Minimalism and post-minimalism

Like any movement, minimalism has evolved and given rise to hybrid forms. Some artists of the 1970s, such as Richard Serra, pushed the interaction between the artwork and the viewer further by creating monumental sculptures that transform the surrounding space.

Post-minimalism retains the simple forms of minimalism but adds elements of texture, narrative, or spontaneity. Eva Hesse, for example, incorporates soft materials, such as latex or fabric, to give her works a more organic feel.

Painting by Donald Judd from 1958, black and colored geometric shapes on a white background, minimalist work.
This work by Donald Judd, created in 1958, exemplifies his exploration of geometric forms and color contrasts. The black shapes and touches of color against a white background highlight Judd's interest in simplicity and structure, characteristic of his minimalist approach

Why does minimalism remain relevant?

More than fifty years after its emergence, minimalism continues to inspire. In a world saturated with images and information, it offers a breath of fresh air, a return to the essential. It can be found in current trends in design, fashion, and even lifestyle, with movements like "Less is more" that advocate simplicity and reducing material possessions.

Minimalism, far more than a style, is a way of seeing and interacting with the world. It pushes us to rethink our relationship to space, objects, and art itself.

There you have it, everything you need to dive into the world of minimalism. And, if you feel like it, why not try creating something minimalist yourself?

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