International Klein Blue

Yves Klein (1928–1962) was a pioneer in monochrome painting—he wanted his viewers to directly engage with the immersive properties of color, rather than an arbitrary image.

Klein developed, and worked to patent, a version of ultramarine that stayed vibrant when mixed with a synthetic resin binder, enabling him to roll an intense hue across a large canvas. To him, this invention was more an act of artistry than painting a picture. But some critics felt that this was just a self-promotional gimmick.

In addition to making his monochrome canvases (right), Klein worked with women as “live brushes”—covering their bodies in paint to roll across a surface (left).

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