Helen Frankenthaler “Paintings”
Bernard Jacobson Gallery
This event has ended.
Helen Frankenthaler is widely recognized as one of the most important artists of the twentieth century. A pioneer of the Color Field movement, Frankenthaler was a major influence on Kenneth Noland and Morris Louis, among others. Considered a second generation abstract expressionist, her work emphasizes the flat surface over illusory depth resulting in open, luminous compositions.
Allowing each work to stand as an individual investigation, Frankenthaler eschewed serial themes. In the current exhibition, three large paintings from the 1980s exemplify her commitment to the medium.
Frankenthaler’s painting Quattrocento (1984) contains a visceral reference to landscape, recalling paintings by J.M.W Turner. Lush vibrant greens merge through layers of translucent paint bleeding into the canvas. In Bella Donna (1987), ambiguous shapes emerge in stained areas suggesting references to nature. In the painting For Chekhov (1986), a dying seagull appears in the foreground. The painting, while abstract, appears to contain a narrative. Distinct elements allude to a theatrical stage and arches frame the central scene.
The exhibition also includes several rare ceramic works titled Thanksgiving Day (1973). They are part of a group of works Frankenthaler made over a Thanksgiving weekend. In the same year, Frankenthaler began a monumental mural using ceramic tiles at the North Central Bronx Hospital.
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Schedule
from March 04, 2014 to April 30, 2014
Opening Reception on 2014-03-07 from 18:00 to 20:00