Horizontal Rust (1960; United States) by Franz Kline

Horizontal Rust - Franz Kline - 1960; United States

Artwork Information

TitleHorizontal Rust
ArtistFranz Kline
Date1960; United States
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions124.5 x 220.3 cm
Art MovementAction painting

About Horizontal Rust

The artwork titled “Horizontal Rust” was created by the artist Franz Kline in 1960 within the United States. It is a work of abstract genre, executed using oil on canvas and is a quintessential example of the Action painting movement. The dimensions of the artwork are 124.5 by 220.3 centimeters.

“Horizontal Rust” embodies the characteristic vigor and dynamic brushstrokes that define Franz Kline’s approach to Action painting. The canvas is dominated by bold, gestural applications of black paint, creating an interplay of lines and shapes that traverse the canvas with an intense energy. The stark contrasts between the black and the white of the canvas are intercepted with patches of a rust-like color, which lend the work its title, and a sense of depth. The abstract forms in the artwork do not represent any recognizable objects from reality, but rather they seem to capture the motion and rhythm of the artist’s hand in a moment of creation. The visible brushwork and the varying thickness of the lines contribute to the perception of movement and spontaneity, invoking a visceral reaction in the viewer akin to witnessing a moment of pure creation. Kline’s work rejects figurative representation, instead inviting an emotional and individual response from each viewer, as is typical for the abstract expressionist art of that era.

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