Franz Kline
Franz Kline was an American painter known for his significant contributions to the abstract expressionism movement. After studying illustration in Boston and London during the 1930s, he settled in New York in 1939 and became part of the New York School, a collective of influential artists including Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. Kline gained recognition with his first solo exhibition in 1950, where his large black and white abstract paintings showcased bold strokes and a dynamic presence, often reminiscent of grids or calligraphy. His work, characterized by a minimalist palette and geometric forms, emphasized the act of painting itself, drawing from his personal experiences and inspirations from social realism and cubism. Throughout the 1950s, Kline played a key role in popularizing abstract expressionism, influencing both his contemporaries and future generations of artists. He received notable accolades, including a special award at the Venice Biennale in 1960, and continued to exhibit widely until his death in 1962. Kline's approachable demeanor and artistic legacy remain significant in the realm of modern art.
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Subject Terms
Franz Kline
- Born: May 23, 1910
- Birthplace: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
- Died: May 13, 1962
- Place of death: New York, New York
Identification Abstract expressionist painter
Kline helped created one of the most important painting forms of the 1950’s, abstract expressionism, which is considered by critics to be the first style unique to America.
Franz Kline studied illustration in Boston and London during the 1930’s and settled in New York by 1939. He became part of a circle known as the New York School, which included Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and Arshile Gorky. Kline’s first one-man show in 1950 established him as an influential figure in the art movement known as abstract expressionism.
Kline is best known for his large black and white abstract paintings, which consist of powerful strokes made with large brushes. The effect produced was one of action and physical impact, and his works have been likened to grids or Oriental calligraphy. Kline reduced abstract art to its most elemental: black, white, line, and geometric form.
Impact
During the 1950’s, the works of de Kooning, Pollock, Kline, and others challenged the aesthetic establishment and led abstract expressionism to a popularity that was international in scope. For Kline, the subject of his art emerged both from his personal experiences and from the very act of making a painting. Social realism and cubism proved important to his inspiration.
Kline was a personable man with an accessible style. His work influenced his peers and subsequent American abstract painters. Throughout the decade, he mounted seven one-artist shows in New York and showed his work at important international shows. He won a special award at the Venice Biennale in 1960. Kline died in New York in 1962.
Bibliography
Gaugh, Harry F. The Vital Gesture: Franz Kline. New York: Abbeville Press, 1985. In-depth monograph covering the full scope of Kline’s work.
Sylvester, David. Interviews with American Artists. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2001. Includes interviews with Franz Kline and artists in his circle.