Gestural abstraction refers to a style of painting or drawing that relies heavily on gestures, which are broad sweeping movements made with brushes or other tools. This type of art is characterized by loose and expressive marks that convey emotion, energy, and movement rather than representing recognizable objects in the physical world. The focus is often on creating a sense of rhythm, texture, and movement through the use of bold lines, shapes, and colors. Gestural abstraction emerged as an artistic style during the mid-20th century and was closely associated with abstract expressionism.