HELEN FRANKENTHALER (1928-2011)
Wind Directions, from Four Pochoirs
pochoir in colors, on Arches watercolor paper, 1970, signed and dated in pencil, numbered 1/50 (there were also six artist's proofs), published by Abrams Original Editions, New York, the full sheet, in generally very good condition, framed
Sheet: 30⁵⁄₈ x 22 in. (778 x 559 mm.)

Harrison 28

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Lot Essay

"Pochoir (from the French word for stencil) was a natural medium for Frankenthaler. Color is applied through the stencil by means of sponges, which she often use[d] in her painting to sweep broad areas of color. The open stencil worked as her guide to the forms, but each impression sustains its own unique character; therefore the edition should be considered 'variant'. Sheila Marbain explained the procedure:

The three of us were holding down the stencil while Helen worked over, around, and on our fingers with the liquid acrylics. The process was revised to accommodate Helen's free and spontaneous approach to printmaking. We felt that the technique was very effective. Despite the fact that the prints were made as an edition, each print has an original, fresh quality recalling the immediacy of a unique watercolor, yet there is no doubt that the prints are very closely related." (Harrison, Frankenthaler: A Catalogue Raisonné, Prints 1961-1994, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1996).