HELEN FRANKENTHALER - first edition

This first edition of “Frankenthaler” holds its own in any room. It may as well be a furnishing with its XL size and cover illustration.  

The cover faithfully reproduces the lower center section of her “Mountains and Sea” , a painting giant in size and influence. The book’s woven fabric-covered boards mimics the original soaked canvas.

Frankenthaler simply stained the canvas for the first time in this painting. Translucent color soaking the unprimed canvas, rather than paint sitting atop it, was very innovative in 1952.

The painting went viral. The new technique was called “soak-stain”.

As a piece of scholarship, the book also also holds its own in any serious library. John Elderfield of MoMA spent 10 years on the project in collaboration with Frankenthaler. The two selected the plates and discussed his critique and narrative. These plates are large exacting reproductions of the originals. You can see the texture of her later paintings. 

429 illustrations, 262 in rich, true color.  

First edition, 1989. 

The color reproductions are key to understanding the Frankenthaler's position in the Color Field Movement and Abstract Expressionism.

 Clear dust jacket is missing. Cover edges have very minimal wear. Very good condition due to missing original jacket.