Minimalism was an American art movement that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s as a reaction to Abstract Expressionism and World War II. It emphasized extreme simplicity and minimal elements in works, often using basic geometric shapes, industrial materials, and primary colors without distractions of composition or themes, allowing viewers to experience the art more intensely. Key traits included geometric and non-representational forms, repetition, and the elimination of the artist's hand in the interest of objectivity and anonymity.