United States
• 1928
- 2011
A line is not a definition of color by line; it is a definition of form.
Biography
Helen Frankenthaler is a painter born on Decembre 12, 1928 in New York and died on December 27, 2011 in Darien, Connecticut. She studied painting and drawing at the Dalton School with Mexican painter Rufino Tamayo, before joining the Bennington College in 1946, where she was taught by painter Paul Feeley who taught him the bases of Cubism. During the 50s, Helen Frankenthaler worked besides artists such as David Smith, Jackson Pollock, Willem and Elaine de Kooning, Franz Klinea.
Influenced by Cubism for a longtime, her work is marked by abstract Expressionism and more particularly by Color-Field painting. She also uses the technique of "Color Stain" (stained color, according to art historian Sam Hunter), poured directly on the support.
Frankenthaler's work was the object of a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art of New York city in 1989. In 1993, it was the National Gallery of Art of Washington that exhibited her work. Her work is also present in institutions in Australia and Germany. In 2002, she received the National Medal of Arts by Georges Bush. In 2020, Helen Frankenthaler's work "Royal Fireworks" sold for a record-breaking $7,895,300 at a Sotheby's auction.
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Helen Frankenthaler
Print - 121.9 x 76.2 x 0.3 cm Print - 48 x 30 x 0.1 inch
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What is Helen Frankenthaler best known for?
Helen Frankenthaler is best known for pioneering the "soak-stain" technique, where she poured thinned paint onto unprimed canvas. She played a key role in the development of Color Field painting and influenced generations of abstract artists.
What painting technique did Helen Frankenthaler create?
Helen Frankenthaler created the "soak-stain" technique, where she poured thinned paint onto unprimed canvas, allowing colors to soak and blend organically. This method was pivotal in the development of Color Field painting.
What did Helen Frankenthaler mean by Jacob's Ladder?
Helen Frankenthaler's "Jacob's Ladder" refers to the biblical story of a ladder connecting earth and heaven, symbolizing spiritual ascent. In her painting, she uses abstract forms and color fields to evoke transcendence and personal exploration.
Was Helen Frankenthaler wealthy?
Helen Frankenthaler came from a wealthy New York family; her father was a respected New York State Supreme Court judge. This privileged background provided her with financial stability throughout her career.