Four Seasons

Splashes of red, yellow, blue, and green flow across this canvas like liquid color caught mid-motion. This is the work of Paul Jenkins, an American painter who became known for his unique technique of pouring and guiding paint across the surface rather than using a brush. He would tilt the canvas, letting gravity and thin washes of color pool, blend, and bleed into one another. The result feels alive, as if the painting is still moving even after the paint has dried.

Jenkins was part of the Abstract Expressionist movement that flourished in mid-twentieth century America, though he carved out his own path with these glowing, translucent layers. The title here, Four Seasons, hints at the cycle of nature, with warm tones suggesting summer and autumn while cooler blues and greens bring to mind winter and spring. Rather than painting a literal landscape, he invites you to feel the seasons through pure color and movement. Take a moment to follow where the colors lead and notice how they shift depending on where your eye lands.