Jacob's Ladder Helen Frankenthaler (American, 1928-2011) 1957. Oil on canvas. 9'5 3/8" x 69 7/8" (287.9 x 177.5 cm) Helen Frankenthaler, born on December 12, 1928 to a New York State Supreme Court Justice and his wife, grew up in New York City and had her first solo exhibition in 1951, at age 23. She was one of the second-generation Abstract Expressionist painters and was known for helping the transition into color field painting. She also experimented with different painting techniques, such as the "stain" technique, and with other media, printmaking in particular. Frankenthaler was set apart from other Abstract Expressionists by the fact that one of her main inspirations was nature, and more broadly what she could actually see, while many others of her time painted to capture an emotion, feeling, or other intangible thought. Her career spanned six decades and has proved to be very influential for both American and international artists. Her work has been displayed around the country and around Europe, and continues to be displayed today, as her work was included in a group exhibition of Abstract Expressionists in London, which ran from September 24, 2016-January 2, 2017. http://www.gagosian.com/artists/helen-frankenthaler https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/helen-frankenthaler-jacobs-ladder-1957 http://www.theartstory.org/artist-frankenthaler-helen.htm Helen posing in front of her own painting Mountains and Sea (1952) in her New York apartment in 1956.
Questions: Helen Frankenthaler was seen as one of the "pioneers" of color field painting. What significance does this hold in your opinion? Throughout her career, Frankenthaler was successful at many types of art, such as painting, woodblock printing, and sculpture. Why do you think that it is important to practice in different media? Frankenthaler grew up pretty wealthy, so she had the privilege of attending art schools throughout her early life. Do you think she would have been as influential as she is had she been raised differently?
0 Comments
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |