Meryon 1960 - 1961

Editor: Here we have Franz Kline's "Meryon," an impactful black and white painting held at the Tate. The scale is impressive, and I'm struck by how the brushstrokes feel both deliberate and spontaneous. What can you tell me about it? Curator: I see a fascinating exploration of materiality. Kline's gestural abstraction highlights the act of painting itself. How does the stark contrast of black and white influence your perception of the materials used, like the paint, the canvas, and even the brush? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but the absence of color really makes you focus on the texture and the way the paint sits on the canvas. Curator: Exactly. And think about the social context. Post-war America saw a fascination with industrial production and labor. Could Kline's bold strokes and stark palette be a reflection of that? Editor: That's a great point! It's like he's celebrating the physical act of creation. Thanks, I'll remember that. Curator: The interplay between labor, material, and form is definitely at the heart of this work.