Franz Kline

1910 - 1962

Biography

Franz Kline trained at Boston University from 1931 to 1935 and the Heatherley School of Art, London from 1937 to 1938 as an illustrator and draughtsman. He became associated with Abstract Expressionism through the 1940s and 1950s. He married a British ballet dancer, Elizabeth Vincent Parsons.

He was labelled as an 'action painter' because of his spontaneous style which focused on brush strokes and canvas use, rather than representation. Although his work appeared spontaneous, he planned each piece carefully, using numerous draft sketches, before committing his composition to canvas.

Kline's best known works are in black and white and seem to show the heavy influence of Japanese calligraphy, although he denied the influence.

Kline's most recognizable style derives from using Bell Opticon opaque projector as a result of a suggestion made in 1948 by his friend Willem De Kooning. Kline said the gigantic projection expanded the brush strokes and removing any image, so that the brush strokes became 'entities in themselves'. He saw them as having their own existence, not related to any other entity.

He painted in that style throughout his life, exhibiting many of his works at the Charles Egan Gallery.

Images

C and O 1958 Oil on canvas 195.6 x 279.4 cm © ARS, NY and DACS, London 2010. The depiction of artworks herein should not necessarily be considered an intimation of ownership

Zinc Yellow 1959 Oil on canvas 236.2 x 201.9 cm © ARS, NY and DACS, London 2010. The depiction of artworks herein should not necessarily be considered an intimation of ownership