Untitled 1947

This untitled piece, made by Franz Kline, is one of those works that really makes you think about what painting is, or could be. The way Kline uses these big, bold strokes of black paint, especially the contrast between the dense, opaque areas and the paper showing through, it’s like he’s wrestling with the surface, trying to build something, maybe a structure, or maybe just a feeling. Look at how the paint clumps and drags in the dark blue section of the composition. It's not just about applying color; it's about pushing the paint around, letting it have its own say in the matter. The open brushstrokes remind me a little of Robert Motherwell, but Kline’s got this raw energy, this feeling of immediacy that's all his own. It’s like he’s saying, "Here’s the mess, here’s the process, take it or leave it."