the collector's folio

Barnett Newman Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Barnett Newman our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Barnett Newman · 1905 – 1970

Black Fire I

1963 · original 289 x 213 cm

Experience Barnett Newman’s monumental ‘Black Fire I,’ a cornerstone of Color Field painting embodying spiritual depth and minimalist elegance—sold for $84.2M at Christie's.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17527 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Prometheus Bound

Museum Folkwang, Essen

Experience the sublime minimalism of Barnett Newman's Prometheus Bound, a powerful Color Field masterpiece evoking spiritual transcendence from Abstract Expressionism.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17519 × 51 cm Commission this artwork

Onement I

1948 · MOMA - Museum of Modern Art, New York City · original 69 x 41 cm

Newman’s artistic vision sought to transcend representational conventions, prioritizing emotional resonance and spiritual depth. ‘Onement I’ exemplifies this ambition through its deliberate reduction of form and color, resulting in an artwork that speaks directly to the viewer's subconscious.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17524 × 41 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$22941 × 69 cm Commission at original size

Be I

View the most popular artwork of Barnett Newman ranked #4: Be I

1970 · Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit · original 213 x 283 cm

Experience the profound minimalism of Barnett Newman's 1970 Color Field masterpiece, Be I; discover this iconic abstract expressionist work today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue II

original 304 x 259 cm

A striking display of bold color field abstraction defines this masterpiece by Barnett Newman featuring vibrant red yellow and blue tones that invite you to explore the profound depth of Abstract Expressionism.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Midnight Blue

1970 · Museum Ludwig, Cologne · original 239 x 193 cm

Midnight Blue is a Color Field painting by Barnett Newman created in 1970. It exemplifies the style's focus on large areas of color and minimalist composition.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17535 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1481239 × 193 cm Commission at original size

Onement, III

1949 · original 182 x 84 cm

Experience the profound spiritual energy of Barnett Newman's Onement, III, a 1949 Color Field masterpiece featuring iconic orange zips against a bold red field, available to bring sublime modernism into your collection.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$593182 × 84 cm Commission at original size

Be I

View the most popular artwork of Barnett Newman ranked #8: Be I

1970 · original 213 x 283 cm

Explore Barnett Newman’s ‘Be I,’ a seminal Color Field painting renowned for its minimalist simplicity & profound emotional impact. Discover this 1970 masterpiece on ArtsDot.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Canto VII

1963 · original 37 x 32 cm

Experience Barnett Newman's Canto VII, a captivating 1963 color field lithograph featuring vibrant blue stripes and expansive planes of color. This seminal work exemplifies abstract expressionism and invites you to discover this iconic piece.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17531 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$18132 × 37 cm Commission at original size

Twelfth Station

1965 · National Gallery of Art, Washington · original 198.1 x 152.4cm

This 1965 abstract expressionist masterpiece by Barnett Newman features bold charcoal and cream fields. Explore this sublime work today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1023152 × 198 cm Commission at original size

The Third

1964

Experience the vibrant energy of Barnett Newman's 1964 color field masterpiece The Third featuring striking orange tones and yellow stripes that invite you to bring this iconic piece of Abstract Expressionism into your home.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17534 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

The Way I

1951 · National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa · original 101.6 x 76.2cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$22537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$423102 × 76 cm Commission at original size

Black Fire I

1961

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17527 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

3. Third Station

1960

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Voice of Fire

1967

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Unfinished painting

1970 · original 213 x 193 cm

Barnett Newman’s unfinished ‘Untitled (number 2)’ – a striking minimalist square of blue & red-brown. Explore this Abstract Expressionist masterpiece's unique history & powerful color impact.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1337193 × 213 cm Commission at original size

12. Twelfh Station

1965

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Thirteenth Station

1966 · original 198 x 153 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1026153 × 198 cm Commission at original size

Canto II

1964

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17531 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Achilles

1952

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Eighth Station

1964 · National Gallery of Art, Washington · original 198.4 x 152.4cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1025152 × 198 cm Commission at original size

Jericho

1969

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17532 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Covenant

1949

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17535 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Canto IX

1963

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17531 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Canto XIV

1964

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 69 artworks by Barnett Newman
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Barnett Newman

1905 – 1970

Quick facts

Copyright statusUnder copyright
Best occasionsfocal, accent
Color intensitybalanced, vivid, monochromatic
Emotional tonespiritual
Corpus themesabstract expressionism, minimalist aesthetic, surrealism, spiritual exploration, color field
Creative periodsmature period
Topics exploredminimalism, color field, abstract, geometric, color field painting
NationalityUnited States

Biography

A Pioneer of Abstract Expressionism: The Life and Art of Barnett Newman

Barnett Newman, born in 1905 in New York City to Jewish immigrant parents from Poland, emerged as a pivotal figure in the landscape of American art. His journey wasn’t one of immediate recognition but rather a slow burn of artistic exploration and philosophical inquiry that ultimately redefined the possibilities of abstract painting. Initially studying at the Art Students League and later at the City College of New York, Newman absorbed the influences of his time – the burgeoning Cubism of Picasso and the vibrant color palettes of Matisse were early touchstones. However, he soon felt constrained by these established modes of representation, sensing a need to forge a new visual language capable of expressing the anxieties and spiritual longings of the post-war era. He even destroyed much of his earlier representational work, a deliberate act signifying his commitment to an entirely new artistic path. This period of self-imposed creative destruction was crucial; it cleared the ground for the radical simplicity that would come to define his mature style.

The Birth of the “Zip” and the Expansion of Color

Newman’s breakthrough arrived with the development of what he famously termed "zips"—vertical bands of color that bisect vast fields of monochrome hues. These weren't merely lines; they were dynamic forces, asserting presence within the expansive emptiness of the canvas. His first solo exhibition in 1943 at Betty Parsons Gallery marked a significant step, though initial reactions were mixed. It was with works like Onement VI (1950-51) that Newman truly established his signature aesthetic. The painting’s sheer scale and austere composition—a single red zip dividing the canvas into fields of orange and red—were revolutionary. Vir Heroicus Sublimis (1958-60), a monumental work, further solidified this approach, its multiple zips creating a sense of spatial depth and evoking feelings of awe and contemplation. The “zip” wasn’t simply an aesthetic device; it was a structural element that simultaneously divided and unified the canvas, acting as a symbolic marker of human presence within the infinite. Newman's work also included pieces like "Rothko by Newman", showcasing his unique style in relation to another key figure in Abstract Expressionism.

Spirituality, The Sublime, and Philosophical Underpinnings

Beyond mere aesthetics, Newman’s art was deeply rooted in philosophical and spiritual concerns. He rejected the notion that painting should merely depict the external world, believing instead that it could serve as a vehicle for exploring profound existential questions. He sought to capture what he called “the sublime”—an experience of overwhelming grandeur and transcendence—through his abstract forms. This wasn’t about religious iconography but rather an attempt to evoke a primal sense of awe and wonder in the viewer. Newman was profoundly affected by the horrors of World War II and the dawn of the nuclear age, believing that traditional artistic conventions were inadequate for expressing the anxieties and moral complexities of this new era. His paintings became arenas for confronting these issues, offering not answers but rather spaces for contemplation and emotional resonance. He saw his work as a rejection of societal norms and an affirmation of individual freedom, striving to create art that was both intellectually rigorous and emotionally powerful.

Legacy and Influence on Modern Art

Barnett Newman’s impact on the development of Abstract Expressionism—alongside contemporaries like Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock—is undeniable. He wasn't simply a painter; he was a theorist, a writer, and an advocate for a new kind of art that prioritized emotional truth over representational accuracy. His innovative use of color and form profoundly influenced subsequent generations of artists, particularly those working in Color Field painting and Minimalism. Artists who followed found inspiration in his reductionist approach and his emphasis on the experiential qualities of art. Today, Newman’s work is held in major museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., cementing his place as a central figure in 20th-century art history. His paintings continue to challenge and inspire viewers, inviting them to engage with fundamental questions about human existence, spirituality, and the power of abstract form.

Further Exploration

Key Themes: Spirituality, The Sublime, Human Existence, Post-War Anxiety.
Influences: Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Cubism, Surrealism.
Notable Works: Onement VI, Vir Heroicus Sublimis, “Rothko by Newman”, The Song of Orpheus.
Artistic Style: Abstract Expressionism, Color Field Painting, characterized by large fields of color and vertical "zips".

Questions & Answers

How many artworks by Barnett Newman are available to browse?

You can browse 69 artworks by Barnett Newman on the All Artworks page.

Can I browse Barnett Newman's works by mood?

The Mood Room of Barnett Newman is a page that arranges the artist's artworks by mood.

Where can I see Barnett Newman's artworks in a 3D gallery?

Barnett Newman's artworks can be seen in a 3D gallery on the artist's 3D Museum page.

By the ArtsDot.com Editorial Team Updated Sept. 10, 2026

Collector's quiz

Barnett Newman is best known for his contributions to which art movement?
What are the vertical lines in Newman's paintings commonly called?
Newman aimed to evoke what kind of feeling in his viewers through his art?
Which of the following is a notable work by Barnett Newman?
Before developing his signature style, what did Newman initially destroy?

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

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