Created by Helen Frankenthaler in 1970, the artwork titled “What Red Lines Can Do” is a quintessential exemplar of the Color Field Painting movement, a genre rooted in the abstract. This aesthetic movement emphasizes the vast expanses of color and the emotional resonance of large areas of a monochromatic hue, often with the intent to evoke a contemplative or emotional response in the viewer.
The artwork itself is characterized by its minimalist approach, utilizing bold, simplified forms and a restrained color palette to produce a profound effect. Dominated by ample negative space, it features sharply defined lines in red and yellow that suggest movement and connectivity, while a patch of blue infuses a sense of depth and contrasting color. The interplay between the lines and colors creates a dynamic tension and an impression of spontaneity, indicative of Frankenthaler’s expertise in orchestrating composition and color to communicate non-representational ideas. The sweeping gestures and fluidity of the lines bring to the fore the artist’s control of her medium and contribute to the painting’s overall sense of balance and harmony.
