What technique did Helen Frankenthaler invent?

Helen Frankenthaler is credited with inventing the "soak-stain" technique, which significantly contributed to the Color Field painting movement. This innovative approach involves using thinned, acrylic paint that is applied directly to unprimed canvas. The paint is soaked into the fabric, allowing the colors to mix and bleed into one another, creating soft, luminous effects that emphasize the interaction between color and surface. This method marked a departure from traditional brushwork and introduced a fluidity in application that was groundbreaking for her time.

Frankenthaler's method contrasted sharply with more rigid forms of painting and opened up new possibilities for abstraction. Other artists in her circle built upon her techniques, but she is widely acknowledged for establishing this unique approach. This innovation not only influenced her artwork but also inspired subsequent generations of artists who sought to explore the properties of paint and color in new ways.