Franz Kline is one of my favorite American Abstract Expressionists. Although he did not contribute to the Abstract Expressionist movement until his later years, his work is considered to be a great part of the movement. The majority of his artwork is considered to be action painting because he acutely focused his attention to his brush strokes and use of canvas instead of the actual figurative painting created. Some refute that Kline was largely influenced by Jackson Pollock but ones who know of his work and history, understand that it was William de Kooning who had the most influence on Kline. With de Kooning's encouragement, Kline was able to create some of the most beautiful and inspiring Abstract Expressionist paintings of his time. His most famous paintings were done in his "black and white" era but he would introduce color back into his work around 1955 only 7 years before his death, at age 51.
The above artwork is one of my favorite paintings by Franz Kline - "Orange Outline" - 1955, Oil on paperboard, mounted on canvas. 96.5 x101.6 cm.
This painting is a great example of Kline's reintroduction of color into his work. Still mainly black and white, Kline utilizes pops of orange and green within the piece to create contrast and variation.
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