Western Dream (left); Untitled (right)
Paintings on canvas • Left: Helen Frankenthaler; Right: Willem de Kooning
Style & Movement
Abstract Expressionism (New York School)
Medium & Technique
Left: Oil and graphite on canvas using soak-stain and gestural painting. Right: Oil on canvas with thick, gestural impasto.
Creation Period
Western Dream: 1957; Untitled: Late 1950s
Dimensions & Format
Left: Vertical rectangular format (approx. 70 x 30 in). Right: Portrait format (approx. 50 x 40 in).
Subject Description
Western Dream features lyricist, staining techniques and calligraphic lines on unprimed canvas. The De Kooning piece (right) is a gestural abstraction with energetic brushwork in yellow, ochre, and blue, representing his 'Parkway' landscape period.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent (Museum Grade). Well-preserved typical of institutional collections.
Estimated Market Value
$15,000,000 - $35,000,000 for the Frankenthaler; $30,000,000 - $60,000,000 for the De Kooning.
Auction Estimate
$20,000,000 - $50,000,000 combined as high-value assets.
Provenance History
Likely held in a major institutional collection (e.g., MoMA or Whitney) given the wall labels and lighting.
Art Historical Significance
Both represent the pinnacle of mid-century American abstraction. Frankenthaler's work bridges Pollack-style action with Color Field, while De Kooning's captures the transition between figuration and pure landscape abstraction.
Notable Features
Frankenthaler's piece shows her signature thinning of oil paint to soak into the weave; De Kooning's shows aggressive scraping and layering.
Condition Issues
Slight yellowing of unprimed canvas on Western Dream (natural aging); minor craquelure possible in De Kooning's heavy impasto areas.
Conservation Recommendations
Strict climate control (50% RH, 70 F) and low UV lighting to prevent degradation of support and pigments.