Color Field painting
- Paintings with solid areas
of color covering the entire canvas,
as exemplified in the work of Mark Rothko (American, 1903-1970),
Kenneth Noland (American, 1924-), and Jules Olitski (American,
1922-). A type of Abstract Expressionism,
these artists were interested in the lyrical or atmospheric effects
of vast expanses of color, filling the canvas, and by suggestion,
beyond it to infinity. Most color-field paintings are large — meant to be seen up close so that the viewer is immersed in a
color environment.
Examples:
Alma Thomas (American, 1891-1978), Iris,
Tulips, Jonquils, and Crocuses, 1969, acrylic
on canvas, 60 x 50 inches,
National Museum of Women in Art, Washington, DC. See African-American art and feminism
and feminist art.
Alma Thomas, Orion, 1973, oil
on canvas, 53 3/4 x 64
inches, National Museum of Women in Art, Washington, DC.
Barnett Newman (American, 1905-1970), Day One, 1951-52, oil on canvas, 132 x 50 1/4 inches (335.3 x 127.6 cm), Whitney Museum of American Art, NY.
Morris Louis (American, 1912-1962), VAV, 1960, acrylic
on unprimed canvas,
260.3 x 359.4 cm, Tate Gallery, London. See stain.
Morris Louis, Alpha-Phi, 1961, acrylic
on unprimed canvas,
259.1 x 459.7 cm, Tate Gallery, London.
Jules Olitski (American, 1922-), Instant Loveland, 1968, acrylic
on canvas, 294.6 x 645.7
cm, Tate Gallery, London.
William Turnbull (English, 1922-), No. 6, 1958, oil
on canvas, 147.5 x 198
cm, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Iran.
Kenneth Noland (American, 1924-), Gift, 1961-2, acrylic
on canvas, 182.9 x 182.9
cm, Tate Gallery, London.
Kenneth Noland, Drought, 1962, acrylic
on canvas, 176.5 x 176.5
cm, Tate Gallery, London.
Also see hard-edge.
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