Helen Frankenthaler

André Emmerich Gallery, New York
Private Collection
Sotheby's, New York, October 5, 1989, lot 88
Ameringer Yohe Fine Art, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above, 2004

New York, Ameringer Yohe Fine Art, October - November 2004

This work is in very good condition overall; the canvas is unlined; there are very minor and unobtrusive dust accretions scattered throughout; there is some minor wear along the bottom edge. Framed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

"The picture unfolds, unravels as I push ahead.  Watching it develop, I seize it."  Helen Frankenthaler (Quoted in Karen Wilkin, Frankenthaler, New York, 1984, p. 101)

The 1970s was a particularly prolific period in Helen Frankenthaler's oeuvre.  In 1978, the year of August Deep, Frankenthaler was enjoying increasing fame and recognition in the form of awards and travelling exhibitions work.  Her artistic practice had extended to explorations in various media including print and three dimensional works.  Despite these other activities, she continued to devote a great deal of time to her primary passion for painting.

By the middle of the decade, Frankenthaler had introduced thicker brushwork in her paintings, applying blocks of pigment which stand atop her stained surfaces, forming opaque barriers to the support and making a denser, more assertive statement than in the past.  These qualities are manifest in August Deep, a medley of hues and colors drawn from nature.  The associations of landscape lie at the heart of Frankenthaler's best work, from her arrangement of the pictorial space to her use of color and light.  As the artist remarked, "The landscapes were in my arms as I did it".  (Quoted in Barbara Rose, Frankenthaler, New York, 1979, p. 54)