The work of Lee Krasner is often grouped under Abstract Expressionism, yet her approach to painting was both distinctive and deeply considered.

Krasner did not see a painting as something completed in a single moment. Instead, she approached it as an evolving process, one that could be revisited, questioned, and reshaped over time. It was not uncommon for her to return to earlier works, cutting them apart and reassembling them into new compositions. What might appear, at first glance, as spontaneity was often the result of careful reconsideration.

Her early training had been rigorous. She studied drawing, composition, and modern European movements, including Cubism, and this grounding remained visible throughout her work. Even in her more abstract paintings, there is an underlying sense of structure, a feeling that the image has been built rather than simply expressed.

In the 1940s, Krasner developed what are now known as her “Little Image” paintings. These works are composed of small, repeated marks, layered across the canvas in a way that feels almost rhythmic. There is a sense of control here, but also of quiet intensity, as though the painting is being constructed piece by piece.

After the death of Jackson Pollock, her work shifted again. The scale increased, and the gestures became broader, more expansive. These later paintings carry a different emotional weight, yet they still reflect her ongoing concern with balance and resolution.

What remains consistent across all periods is Krasner’s commitment to the idea that a painting must be worked through. She did not rely on a single burst of energy, but instead allowed her work to develop gradually, often through revision and reconstruction.

For the viewer, this creates a different kind of experience. Krasner’s paintings invite us not only to look, but to consider how the image has been formed—how each decision contributes to the whole.

For a deeper, story-driven exploration of Krasner’s artistic life and process, you may enjoy The Woman Who Painted the Seasons → SEE HERE for links to e-book, paperback, hardcover and audio