Helen Frankenthaler was one of the leading American artists of her time. Early in her career, her work was heavily influenced by Cubist artists before gradually evolving towards abstract expressionism and landscape themes.

In 1950, her encounter with Jackson Pollock had a significant influence on her, particularly his way of painting directly on the floor. She reinvented this approach by developing the 'soak-stain' technique, which involved pouring paint directly onto the canvas while maintaining the large formats characteristic of Pollock.

Frankenthaler was part of the 'Color Field' movement, recognizable by its bright colors and textured effects, excluding any figurative form. This approach continued and transitioned from abstract expressionism. Nature was a major source of inspiration for the artist, with the theme of landscape recurring throughout her career.

Frankenthaler stated: 'I am a painter. I am a woman. I love both. For me, being a "woman painter" has never been a problem. I mean, gender contributes no more to the value of a work than any other adjective one can put before the word "painter" — whether it be race, religion, economy, or culture. I do not resent being a woman painter. I do not exploit it. I paint.'