Break Through

Helen Frankenthaler’s Break Through: A Pivotal Moment in Abstract Expressionism

Few works capture the raw energy of Abstract Expressionism as vividly as Helen Frankenthaler’s Break Through (1956). Painted at the height of her career, this piece marks a turning point in her practice—one where the fluidity of her signature soak-stain technique collides with a newfound boldness in composition. Unlike her earlier, more restrained canvases, Break Through explodes with dynamic contrasts: the deep blues and ochres seem to push against one another, creating a visual tension that feels almost kinetic. The title itself suggests rupture, a deliberate shattering of expectations in both form and color.

By 1956, Frankenthaler had already cemented her influence on the New York School, but Break Through stands apart for its architectural quality. The central mass of pigment—partially translucent, partially opaque—appears to hover above the canvas, defying the flatness often associated with Color Field painting. As noted by the Museum of Modern Art, her work from this period often played with the illusion of depth without relying on traditional perspective. Here, the interplay of saturated and diluted hues creates a sense of spatial ambiguity, inviting viewers to question where the surface ends and the illusion begins.

Frankenthaler in 1956: Between Stain and Structure

By the mid-1950s, Helen Frankenthaler had moved beyond the purely lyrical abstractions of her early soak-stain paintings. Break Through reflects this shift, blending the organic fluidity of her 1952 breakthrough Mountains and Sea with a more assertive geometric undercurrent. The artist’s time spent in dialogue with peers like Robert Motherwell and Jackson Pollock is evident here—not in imitation, but in her refusal to be confined by their approaches. Where Pollock’s drips were performative, Frankenthaler’s stains were meditative yet precise, a distinction Tate Modern has highlighted as central to her legacy.

This period also saw Frankenthaler experimenting with scale and materiality. Break Through’s relatively intimate dimensions (the original measures just over four feet wide) allowed for a tension between expansiveness and intimacy. The ochre and ultramarine passages suggest landscapes without ever becoming literal, a hallmark of her ability to evoke without depicting. Critics often note how her work from 1956–57 bridges the gap between first-generation Abstract Expressionism and the harder-edged geometries of the 1960s, making pieces like this one pivotal in understanding the movement’s evolution.

Break Through isn’t just a painting—it’s a manifesto. Frankenthaler proves that abstraction needn’t sacrifice structure to achieve emotional resonance, nor must it abandon lyricism to assert its power.

The Alchemy of Break Through: Technique and Innovation

Composition: The Illusion of Weight

The painting’s central ochre form dominates the canvas, its irregular edges bleeding into the surrounding blues and whites. Frankenthaler achieves this effect by thinning her oils with turpentine, allowing the pigment to seep into the unprimed canvas—a method she pioneered. The result is a paradox: the ochre appears simultaneously heavy and weightless, as if suspended in mid-fall. This tension between solidity and dissolution became a signature of her mid-career work.

Color: Contrast as Narrative

The juxtaposition of warm ochre against cool blues wasn’t arbitrary. Frankenthaler often used complementary hues to create vibrational energy, but in Break Through, the contrast serves a structural purpose. The blues recede, while the ochre advances, generating a push-pull dynamic that animates the entire composition. This deliberate use of color temperature—rather than value—to define space was radical in 1956, predating the Op Art movement’s similar explorations by nearly a decade.

Displaying Break Through: A Curator’s Approach

The print’s 30×40 cm dimensions make it versatile for both intimate and expansive spaces. Its warm ochre and deep blue palette pairs exceptionally well with neutral walls—think soft grays, warm whites, or even muted terracotta—but avoids overwhelming smaller rooms. For maximum impact, position it at eye level in a narrow hallway or above a console table, where the vertical orientation of the composition can draw the viewer’s gaze upward. In larger spaces, such as a living room with a sectional sofa, the print’s vibrant contrasts become a focal point when hung opposite a window, allowing natural light to enhance its luminosity.

Avoid overly busy surroundings; Break Through demands breathing room. A simple, modern frame (included with your print) ensures the artwork remains the star. For complementary decor, consider ceramic pieces in earthy tones or a single sculptural lamp with clean lines—elements that echo the painting’s balance of organic form and geometric tension.

More Works by Helen Frankenthaler

Explore other iconic pieces by this Abstract Expressionist master, each available as a gallery-framed print with FREE worldwide shipping.

Helen Frankenthaler

Chill Factor

View print

Helen Frankenthaler

Abstract Landscape

View print

Helen Frankenthaler

Star Gazing

View print

Helen Frankenthaler

Harvest II

View print

You May Also Love

Surrealism

Rene Magritte

The Voice of Blood 1

View print

Modernism

Arthur Dove

Fields of Grain as Seen from Train

View print

Fauvism

Henri Matisse

Vase of Amaryllis

View print