Painted in 1979, Helen Frankenthaler’s Watch is a testament to her continued investigations into the possibilities of paint. The present work represents a pivotal moment in Frankenthaler's illustrious career, highlighting her evolving preference towards increasingly rich tones and dense compositions. A captivating exploration of her signature style, the picture is layered with dynamic and bold brushstrokes in a mesmerizing interplay of hues. The canvas itself becomes a window into a world of endless doldrums, a sea of emotions brought to life through gestural strokes of the artist’s brush.
By 1979 Frankenthaler had been working with acrylic paints for over 15 years, allowing her to create sharper edges and more contrast within her palette than with the thinned oil paints that she had initially used in the soak stain technique. In Watch, this manifests itself in a canvas of striking hues, composed of inky black, blue, green, and sporadic splashes of pearlescent silver and purple. Gazing upon Watch, the viewer is invited to immerse oneself into the depths of the canvas, each brushstroke telling a story, a narrative of Frankenthaler’s expressive journey through Abstract Expressionism. It is as if Frankenthaler's artistry has unlocked the secrets of her chosen medium, allowing her to paint not only with pigment but with raw emotion.
A detail of the present work.
“There is no ‘always,’” Frankenthaler noted. “No formula. There are no rules. Let the picture lead you where it must go.”i Her philosophy on painting, and in life, is exemplified in Watch. The canvas acts as a guide for both the artist and viewer, the path of discovery laid out by the colors, gestures and brushstrokes of the artist, immersing the viewer in an entirely distinct visual experience. Only using this deep black color in a few other works from the 1970s, the present work is a standout example from Frankenthaler’s oeuvre.
i Helen Frankenthaler quoted in Ted Loos, “Helen Frankenthaler, Back to the Future,” New York Times, April 27, 2003, online.
Provenance
André Emmerich Gallery, New York Acquired from the above by the present owner
Exhibited
New York, André Emmerich Gallery, Helen Frankenthaler: New Paintings, November 3–28, 1979, n.p. (installation view illustrated, n.p.; illustrated, n.p.)