Untitled c. 1940s - 1950s

This is a small, untitled work by Franz Kline, made with ink on paper. It's a whirlwind of black marks against a creamy background. The ink isn't just applied, it's dripped, splattered, and dragged, revealing a real sense of action. I think about the materiality of the ink, how it pools in some areas and thins out in others, almost like a dance between control and chance. Look at that thick stroke that cascades down from the top – it’s interrupted by three vertical streams like tears. It’s so physical, so present. Kline is so great at making the viewer aware of the painting as an event. Kline's work reminds me a bit of Robert Motherwell's elegance and the raw energy of Abstract Expressionism. But Kline, he’s got this knack for making something so simple feel so monumental, like a snapshot of a fleeting moment. It reminds us that art isn't just about what you see, but how you see, and how you feel while you're seeing.