Grün-Orange (Green-Orange)
Painting on canvas • Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015)
Style & Movement
Color Field Painting / Minimalism / Hard-edge Abstraction
Medium & Technique
Oil and/or synthetic polymer paint on canvas; flat application of color with precise, crisp edges and an even, matte finish characteristic of late-modernist color investigation.
Creation Period
Circa 1970 - 1980 (Based on the artist's exploration of rounded rectangular forms in the 1970s).
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 40 x 30 inches; vertical (portrait) orientation; large-scale singular panel.
Subject Description
A non-objective composition featuring a vibrant orange quasi-rectangular form with rounded corners (often referred to as a 'pill' or 'lozenge' shape) situated within a solid green field. The work explores the relationship between figure and ground, retinal intensity, and the interaction of complementary-adjacent hues.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good (Based on digital image); the surface appears uniform, though a high-resolution inspection would be required to check for 'scuffing' or 'burnishing,' which is common in Kelly’s flat color fields.
Estimated Market Value
$2,000,000 - $4,500,000 USD (Depending on specific scale and year).
Auction Estimate
$2,500,000 - $3,500,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired via a major contemporary gallery such as Matthew Marks Gallery or Leo Castelli; typical private or institutional collection provenance for major mid-to-late century American abstraction.
Art Historical Significance
Ellsworth Kelly is a foundational figure in post-war American art. This work represents his departure from the European gestural tradition toward a 'pure' form of abstraction where the shape and color are the primary subjects. His 'rounded edge' series is critical in his career-long study of architectural and biological forms observed in reality and reduced to geometric essentials.
Notable Features
The tension between the rounded orange form and the straight vertical edges of the canvas creates a subtle optical 'expansion' effect popular in Hard-edge abstraction.
Condition Issues
Visible surface glare in photo suggests a clean finish, but hard-edge paintings from this period are susceptible to cracking (craquelure) at edge junctions and pigment fading if exposed to UV light.
Conservation Recommendations
Display in a climate-controlled environment (50% RH, 70°F) with strict UV filtration. Hard-edge paintings should not be touched as fingerprints can cause permanent chemical changes to the matte surface.