Painting No. 7 1952

Franz Kline made Painting No. 7 with oil and possibly enamel paint on canvas. These are traditional materials, but Kline used them to create a very modern effect. His bold strokes of black paint, laid over a white ground, have an improvisational feel. The painting looks as if it was done quickly. Yet, the physicality of the paint—its texture, weight, and color—suggests a deliberate and carefully crafted process. We know that Kline admired the gestural quality of calligraphy, and also was influenced by the industrial structures around him in New York. It's interesting to consider his work in relation to house painting or sign painting. These commercial trades also involve the application of pigment to a surface. But Kline elevates his materials and process to the realm of high art. Ultimately, the meaning of Painting No. 7 lies in the balance between its materials, making, and context. It invites us to reconsider the boundaries between fine art and craft, and the cultural values we associate with each.