Now Available: 4k Restoration of Marion Cajori's Film "Joan Mitchell: Portrait of an Abstract Painter"

In conjunction with Joan Mitchell’s centennial celebration, we are pleased to offer a 4K digital restoration of the film Joan Mitchell: Portrait of an Abstract Painter, which is now available to stream at no cost on the Foundation’s website. The film is also available for screenings at nonprofits upon request. English and French captions are available.

Directed by Marion Cajori, this elegantly edited film from 1992 weaves together interviews with Mitchell and other leading painters and critics with interpretative sequences representing earlier chapters in Mitchell’s life—while letting her paintings dominate the film.

In a review from 1993, @nytimes film critic Steven Holden wrote: “The best thing about Marion Cajori's study of Joan Mitchell...is the way it makes a complete emotional portrait of the toweringly acerbic artist by interweaving her conversation with shots of works that reveal her vulnerable inner life.”

The 4K digital film restoration was funded by the Joan Mitchell Foundation, New York. We would like to express our gratitude to the following individuals who made this project possible:

Isabel Cajori Jay, for her gracious approval of the restoration project and generous agreement to allow the Foundation to provide public access to the film via online streaming on the JMF website and in-person screenings by nonprofit organizations.

Ken Kobland, the cinematographer for the film, for initiating and spearheading the project, coordinating all parties, and making the restoration possible. Ken oversaw all aspects of the restoration, and provided decision-making guidance to the Foundation throughout the post-production process.

Jason Crump and Jack Rizzo at Metro Post were thoughtful and expert partners throughout post-production.

Amy Sloper and Mark Johnson at the Harvard Film Archive graciously loaned the master film, without which the restoration would not have been possible.