Action painting, also known as gestural abstraction, is an art movement that emerged during the 1940s and 1950s. This movement primarily focused on spontaneity and chance, with artists relying on their physical and emotional energy to create large-scale works of art. While "action painter" is the most commonly used term to describe these artists, there are several other synonyms that can be used. Some examples include "gesture painter," "spontaneous artist," "nonrepresentational painter," "expressionist painter," and "abstractionist." Each term can be used to describe the unique qualities and techniques used by artists in the action painting movement.