Hard Edge

In visual arts, "hard edge" refers to a style of abstract painting characterized by abrupt transitions between color areas. Color areas are deliberately defined with clear, sharp lines, rather than blended or feathered. This effect is often achieved by using masking techniques, taping, or meticulous hand-painting to create crisp boundaries between the different hues.

Hard-edge painting emerged in the late 1950s as a departure from the more gestural and expressive qualities of abstract expressionism. It emphasizes flatness, precise forms, and the objective properties of color. The emphasis is on surface and the optical effect created by the arrangement of colors, often employing geometric shapes and patterns. Artists associated with the hard-edge style sought to create a visual experience that was clean, calculated, and intellectually engaging, minimizing the artist's personal mark. The movement is often associated with, and sometimes considered a subset of, geometric abstraction.