Paul Jenkins (1923-2012) was a major American abstract painter who first established his reputation in post-war France.   

Along with artists such as and , Jenkins was based mostly in Paris in the 1950s, and as a result his work developed in tandem with rather than following the New York School. 

Jenkins, like the aforementioned artists, came to Paris because of the famous G.I. Bill - which covered veterans' tuition and other expenses while studying. Jenkins would settle in Paris around 1953 however over the course of the next decade he would regularly exhibit in the United States. By 1960 Jenkins had sold work to the Whitney and Peggy Guggenheim. He also had a solo show at the legendary Martha Jackson Gallery. 

Jenkins’ approach and certain technical elements of his creative process keep him in context with the Abstract Expressionists. Known for avoiding the paintbrush, the artist dripped paint on canvases, often manipulating paint to pool, roll, and bleed. Additionally, Jenkins worked on primed canvas, used an ivory knife (for control) and did not stain his surfaces. 

This work is uniquely connected to Canada as a part of the “Primary Colours Canada” series of 1981. This series was printed at Sword Street Press, a pre-eminent Canadian printing studio located in Toronto.

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Lithograph on Somerset rag paper 

Edition of 150

Printed by Sword Street Press

Signed and numbered by the artist in pencil, lower left.

Canada, 1981

37.5”H 29.5”W (work)

48.5"H 39"W (framed)

Very good condition 

Note: unless shipping within the Toronto - Montreal - New York triangle, this work is sold unframed.