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Overview
What is Colour Field Painting?
c. 1950s – 1960sPeriod
United StatesBegan in
9Key artists on this page
9Works with free images
4Museums to visit
Color field painting (Colour field painting in Commonwealth English) is a style of abstract painting that emerged in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s. It was inspired by European modernism and closely related to abstract expressionism, while many of its notable early proponents were among the pioneering abstract expressionists. Color field is characterized primarily by large fields of flat, solid color spread across or stained into the canvas creating areas of unbroken surface and a flat picture plane. The movement places less emphasis on gesture, brushstrokes and action in favor of an overall consistency of form and process.From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Original Art Movements text
This is the text that appeared on this page on the original Art Movements site. It is kept for reference; some statements are simplified or out of date. Where it differs from the overview, characteristics and dates above, which are checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata, trust those instead.
A technique in abstract painting developed in the 1950s. It focuses on the lyrical effects of large areas of color, often poured or stained onto the canvas. Newman, Rothko, and Frankenthaler painted in this manner.
Camel (in Rhythmic Landscape with Trees) by Paul Klee, 1920 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Period
c. 1950s – 1960s
Began in
United States
Key artists
Helen Frankenthaler, Barnett Newman, Alma Thomas, Frank Bowling
Related
Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Indian River School (Florida Highwaymen)
How to recognise it
Key characteristics of Colour Field Painting
Large flat areas of colour
Paint stained or soaked into raw canvas
Little or no gesture or texture
Huge canvases that fill the field of vision
Calm, contemplative effect
Timeline
When was Colour Field Painting?
Colour Field Painting is usually dated c. 1950s – 1960s, beginning in United States. Dates for art movements are approximate: artists joined and left, and styles overlapped.
Each bar shows an artist's life; the shaded band is the main period of Colour Field Painting.
Alma Thomas
Barnett Newman
Paul Feeley
Friedel Dzubas
William Perehudoff
Helen Frankenthaler
Frank Bowling
Gretchen Albrecht
Colour Field Painting
1891–1978
1905–1970
1910–1966
1915–1994
1918–2013
1928–2011
born 1934
born 1943
1900192019401960198020002020
Who
Key Colour Field Painting artists
Artists linked to Colour Field Painting in Wikidata, ordered by how widely they are covered on Wikipedia. Artists marked Art Icons have a full profile on our sister site.
Large, flat areas of colour that envelop the viewer.
When was Colour Field Painting?
Colour Field Painting: c. 1950s – 1960s. It began in United States. Dates for art movements are approximate.
What are the main characteristics of Colour Field Painting?
Large flat areas of colour; Paint stained or soaked into raw canvas; Little or no gesture or texture; Huge canvases that fill the field of vision; Calm, contemplative effect.
Who are the most famous Colour Field Painting artists?
Helen Frankenthaler, Barnett Newman, Alma Thomas, Frank Bowling, Friedel Dzubas.
What are some famous Colour Field Painting works?
Camel (in Rhythmic Landscape with Trees) by Paul Klee; Angelus Novus by Paul Klee; Sumpflegende by Paul Klee; Thirteenth Station by Barnett Newman; Fifth Station by Barnett Newman.
Where can I see Colour Field Painting art?
National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C., United States), Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen (Düsseldorf, Germany), Israel Museum (Jerusalem), Lenbachhaus (Munich, Germany) hold works shown on this page.
