Picture 046 

Franz Kline, born in 1910, was one of the leading figures of the New York School of the 1950s, and Picture 046 embodies the spirit of abstract expressionism. Kline, alongside peers like Pollock and de Kooning, sought a mode of painting that mirrored the anxieties and energies of the Cold War era. They broke away from traditional representation, embracing abstraction as a means of conveying raw emotion. Picture 046, with its bold, gestural strokes in black and white, reflects this quest for direct and immediate expression. There is a raw, almost visceral quality to Kline’s work. The stark contrast between black and white creates a sense of tension and drama, as if we are witnessing a struggle between opposing forces. Kline's work resonates with anyone who has felt the push and pull of conflicting emotions. He shows us, through his work, how art can become a mirror reflecting our own internal landscapes.