Orange Hoop 1965

Helen Frankenthaler made "Orange Hoop" using color lithography, and what strikes me is the way she lets the colours breathe and interact on the page. This print feels less about a specific image and more about the process of making itself. If you look closely, you can see how the orange hoop isn't a solid line but a combination of strokes and variations in ink density, especially at the top. It is almost as if the ink is suspended on the paper. Then there is the large organic form, the green shape, which anchors the piece, with mottled variations in hue and surface texture. The yellow strokes at the base add balance to the composition. Frankenthaler’s practice, similar to Joan Mitchell’s, embraced process and chance. They made the most of accident, and in doing so they both left us some unforgettable paintings.