“Action Painting II” is an oil on canvas artwork created by artist Mark Tansey in 1984. It belongs to the genres of Contemporary Realism and Surrealism, with a figurative style. The artwork is housed in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) in Montreal, Canada.
The artwork depicts a dramatic scene where a space shuttle is lifting off into the sky, trailing a plume of smoke and fire. The foreground shows several individuals engaged in the act of painting this very scene on their canvases, each capturing different moments and perspectives of the launch. The painting is executed in a monochromatic palette, which adds a theatrical and timeless quality to the work. The artists’ detailed postures and focused intent on their easels contrast with the dynamic and monumental event happening in the background. An American flag stands tall on the left side, adding a layer of patriotic context to the scene. Overall, the artwork intertwines the process of artistic creation with a significant technological achievement, blurring the lines between reality and representation.
