West Wind 1997

"West Wind" is an abstract painting by Helen Frankenthaler, created in 1997. Frankenthaler is known for her "soak-stain" technique, where she dilutes paint with turpentine and applies it to unprimed canvas, allowing the color to permeate the fabric. Her work, often inspired by nature, is characterized by its lyrical, gestural, and colorful forms. In "West Wind," a symphony of layered washes and subtle brushstrokes evokes a sense of movement and airiness, suggesting the wind's passage through a landscape. The work is reminiscent of her earlier explorations of color and form, a defining aspect of her contribution to Abstract Expressionism.