Gagosian is pleased to present its first exhibition of Helen Frankenthaler’s paintings and works on paper at its Paris gallery. “Helen Frankenthaler: After Abstract Expressionism, 1959–1962” comprises thirteen paintings and two works on paper, and explores a radical body of works unique within Frankenthaler’s oeuvre. Made during a critical moment in her early development, this group of works has frequently been overlooked in studies of the artist’s career, an oversight that the present exhibition hopes to remedy.

The first group of paintings, dating from 1959–60, are described in John Elderfield’s catalogue essay, borrowing the term from an early critic, as “think-tough, paint-tough.” These paintings are characterized by vigorously expressive brushwork, as seen in the large scale First Creatures (1959) and Mediterranean Thoughts (1960). By 1961–62, Frankenthaler had moved into a different mode, making paintings that were quieter and more calligraphic. 

The majority of the works in the show have not been exhibited since the time of their making; their exhibition in Paris marks the first time in sixty years that they have been seen as a united group, offering a unique opportunity to reassess their importance to Frankenthaler’s career.

The exhibition is accompanied by a bilingual, fully illustrated catalogue, including a new essay by John Elderfield.