Tuscany 1963

Helen Frankenthaler made this work, Tuscany, with diluted acrylic paint on canvas. Frankenthaler poured and manipulated the paint, allowing it to soak into the fabric. This soak-stain method was pretty radical at the time, freeing painting from the brushwork associated with traditional easel painting. The canvas itself becomes a ground for the painting and a support at the same time. The process emphasized the flatness of the painting surface, in line with the formalist concerns of the time. Frankenthaler's technique involved staining rather than layering paint, so the canvas absorbed the colors directly, creating a direct interaction between the material and the support. This method of working was efficient, it's true, but also deeply engaged with the essence of the materials. By prioritizing the act of creation and the properties of the fabric and paint, Frankenthaler blurred traditional lines between the handmade and the industrial. It brings us to reflect on the labor, the cultural values, and the economic systems that influence both art and design.