Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Levin
American painter Franz Kline is best known for his bold, black brushstrokes that look energetic and expressive. He was part of the Abstract Expressionism art movement of the 1940s and 1950s. Artists in this movement focused on showing feelings instead of realistic images. Other artists in this style include Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko.
Kline used fast, heavy brushstrokes that show movement. His paintings may look unplanned, but he actually thought them out ahead of time. He often made small sketches first and used a projector to make them bigger on a wall before painting them on a large canvas.
I don’t decide in advance that I’m going to paint a definite experience, but in the act of painting, it becomes a genuine experience for me.
Franz Kline
Orange Outline focuses on movement and energy instead of realistic images. It shows Kline’s typical strong lines but also includes touches of orange, which makes it different from his mostly black-and-white work. The black shapes in this painting may remind viewers of buildings or bridges, but they are not meant to be one specific thing.
tags: movement, place, subjectivity, artist’s process
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