Portrait of Frederick Blumenstein 1945

Franz Kline made this ink on paper portrait of Frederick Blumenstein in 1947. Kline was a key figure in the abstract expressionist movement, but this is a representational work, albeit one with an emphasis on line and gesture rather than realistic detail. The sketch was made in a specific cultural and institutional context, that of the New York art world after the second world war. The gestural style references the spontaneous, intuitive approach to artmaking that was encouraged at the time, a reaction against the more formal and academic styles of the past. The fact that it is a portrait suggests the importance of personal relationships and individual expression in this artistic community. To fully understand this work, it's helpful to research the social networks and artistic debates that shaped Kline's career. This kind of historical research is essential for understanding the meaning and significance of art within its specific time and place.