Franz Kline was an American painter born on May 23, 1910, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He studied art at Boston University and the Heatherley School of Art in London. Kline is associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement of the 1940s and 1950s and was a leading painter known for his distinctive monochromatic paintings.
Kline’s early career focused on views of New York, and he was influenced by Jackson Pollock. Kline’s art employed black brushstrokes on white canvases performing as an “action painter.” His large canvases featured abstract designs utilizing black and white color palettes to create distinctive pieces.
Kline passed away on May 13, 1962, in New York City. He had been a significant influence on Cy Twombly; it seems that he primarily wanted viewers to look directly at his work without preconceptions or distractions from narrative subject matter.
In conclusion, Franz Kline was known for his unique approach to Abstract Expressionism using monochromatic black brushstrokes on white canvases resulting in large-scale abstract designs. Kline has influenced generations of artists who followed him through both his artistic style and embrace of free experimentation. Despite only living until the age of fifty-one years old, Franz Kline cemented himself as one of America’s most important painters between the World War II era through to its aftermath.
All Franz Kline Artwork on Artchive
| Artwork Name | Year | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Untitled | c.1960 | Oil on Canvas |
| Painting Number 2 | 1954 | Oil on Canvas |
| New York, N.Y. | 1953 | Oil on Canvas |
