Helen Frankenthaler

Born in Manhattan in 1928, Helen Frankenthaler was a leading exponent of American Abstract Expressionism. Her bold and lyrical works were rooted in spontaneous and instinctive gestures. Working on a large scale, she applied thinned synthetic polymer paint to unprimed canvas, a technique that enabled her, literally, to sink the image into its surface. This resulted in paintings of a flat, stained appearance, which made the relationship between the elements of her compositions ambiguous.

Madame Butterfly is the culmination of Frankenthaler’s experimentation in the woodcut medium. Working closely with master printer Kenneth Tyler, as well as with Japanese printer Yasuyuki Shibata and paper-maker Tom Strianese, Frankenthaler sought to translate the appearance of her paintings into the woodcut medium. The final work is composed of over 100 colour woodcuts from forty-six woodblocks and is printed on handmade paper rendered to look like wood. Although traditionally used to create crisp outlines, in Frankenthaler’s print the woodcut appears as delicate as a watercolour.

Text by Maria Zagala, Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings & Photographs.

Listen

Maria Zagala discusses Helen Frankenthaler's 'Madame Butterfly'

Australian Curriculum Connections

Explore & Respond

ideas, practices, works and contexts for the arts in the lives of individuals and groups across cultures, times, places and communities
the diversity of how, where and why people create, make, perform, present and respond across arts forms, and the roles that the arts play in lives, cultures and communities
ways in which the arts communicate cultural and aesthetic knowledge, purpose, meaning and emotion
ways in which the arts develop empathy and understanding of multiple perspectives, across personal, local, regional, national and global contexts.

Developing practices and skills

creative skills for using and manipulating the elements, principles, conventions and/or processes of arts forms
using available materials and technologies to develop and communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning
critical skills in observing, reflecting, analysing, evaluating and/or documenting their own and others’ arts-making practices, using language and/or embodied practices.

Creating and Making

individual and/or collaborative work using available resources/materials in diverse existing, emerging and innovative forms, styles and/or genres
new work, which may be refined and realised, or may be presented as a work in progress
interpretations of work created by others and interpretations of their own work as performers; interpreting involves informed observation, analysis, reflection and evaluation.

Presenting and Performing

share their work using available spaces, materials, technologies and/or digital tools
plan, select, design and rehearse their presentations and performances

What is Abstract Expressionism?

American Abstract Expressionism emerged after World War II. Alongside artists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Robert Motherwell, Frankenthaler helped redefine painting by exploring new techniques, materials, and ways of creating meaning. Abstract Expressionism focused on emotion, gesture and spontaneity often resulting in large scale works of art that moved away from realistic representation.

How does Frankenthaler’s technique challenge traditional painting methods?
What effect does staining paint into the canvas create compared to painting on top?
What emotions does Madame Butterfly evoke?

Select a work of art by either Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning or Robert Motherwell. Compare this work to Madame Butterfly. How are these works similar or different?
- Which visual element stands out to you the most?
- How do you think these artists applied their material to their surfaces? With a partner write a list of instructions for how you think these works were made.
- Did the artists use a palette knife, paint brush or pour the paint onto their surface? What can you see that makes you think the paint was applied the way that it appears?

Soak and stain techniques

Experiment with pouring watered down paint on paper, cardboard, MDF/plywood and or canvas. Once poured tilt the surface, as Frankenthaler did, try working on the ground rather than at a table. Repeat this practice with different levels of watered down paint and document the results.

Which surface was more absorbent?
Which paint moved around the surface fastest/slowest?
Which surface produced the results you are most please with?

Creative Writing

Author Judith Goldman notes Madame Butterfly is "As delicate as haiku, as fleeting as cherry blossoms, it suggests the fugitive nature of time.". Write a short poem inspired by the colour and movement in Madame Butterfly.

Printmaking

Abstract Expressionism is characterised by chance and spontaneous movements. Using the outcomes of the experiments from the soak and stain trials (see practice and skills), create a simple print. The shapes created by the paint stains can be recreated by carving into foam, cardboard or soft carving surface such as linoleum or easy carve. Print multiple versions of this print, layer colours and experiment again with different surfaces.

Take it further

Madame Butterfly is printed on handmade paper, which was specially made to replicate the appearance of wood. You might like to research how to make paper, and make copies of your print on this paper.

Activity in Focus
Exploring Gesture

Frankenthaler was known for working with expressive gestures. In this activity, you will explore how everyday gestures can be transformed into abstract movement.

What is a gesture?

A gesture is a movement of the body, often using the arms, hands, face, or head, that communicates meaning without words.

Examples of everyday gestures include:

Thumbs up
Waving hello or goodbye
Shrugging shoulders
Nodding or shaking your head
Folding arms
Hands on hips
“Stop” or “Shhh”

What gestures do you and your friends use that others might not know?

Create and Collect Gestures

Write down different gestures (everyday or invented).
Place them into a container.
Select two gestures at random.

Abstract Your Gestures

Take your chosen gestures and transform them:

Exaggerate the movement
Change the body part (e.g. perform it with your elbow or whole body)
Enlarge or minimise the action
Alter the speed or direction

How can you make a simple gesture become something new and unexpected?

Extension – Movement Quality: Weightlessness

In Frankenthaler’s Madame Butterfly, she aimed to create a sense of weightlessness.

Apply this to your movement:

Move as if you are floating or as if you are on the moon
Experiment with slow motion
Shift between:
- Normal speed
- Fast movement
- Weightless movement

How does changing the movement quality affect your gestures?

Extension – From Mark Making to Movement

Create a series of marks on paper (lines, curves, dots, shapes).
Use these marks as inspiration for movement.

Translate your marks into the body:

Draw the marks in the air using different body parts
- Elbow
- Knee
- Head
- Fingers

Create a Movement Motif

Combine your movement ideas into a short sequence
Practise and memorise your sequence
Prepare to perform to the class.

Teacher Tip: Encourage students to explore a wide range of body parts and levels, and to use space around them to “draw” their movements clearly.