Untitled 1963

Curator: I’m struck by the immediacy of this painting; the pooling and soaking of pigment feels incredibly fresh. Editor: Indeed. This is Helen Frankenthaler's “Untitled” painting from 1963. She was a pivotal figure in the shift from Abstract Expressionism to Color Field painting. Think of the socio-political landscape of the early 60s – a time of great change and uncertainty which artists sought to address in novel forms of expression. Curator: The handling of the acrylic is masterful. The way she thinned the paint allows it to merge with the canvas in such a fascinating way. It isn’t merely applied; it interacts. It allows the production and materials to communicate freely with each other. Editor: It is certainly interesting how Frankenthaler challenges traditional ideas about the surface of a painting and emphasizes process, moving away from gesture. Curator: The color palette seems restrained, yet quite compelling, a somber counterpoint to the energy of the application technique. What I love is how Frankenthaler is almost performing an experiment in the act of creation here! Editor: It reminds me of a conversation surrounding "action painting". Her engagement is apparent from the politics of painting during a time of societal shifts, she sought ways of expressing ideas with more conceptual awareness. Curator: The raw canvas, not totally covered, leaves room to contemplate both form and non-form. Editor: Seeing this painting helps clarify the complex trajectory of art at the time, which can challenge conventions about aesthetics in gallery spaces. We are fortunate to experience the legacy of Frankenthaler’s dialogue with abstraction.