Paint
Bocour
Bocour Magna Acrylic
Magna was a line of acrylic resin paints manufactured by Leonard Bocour in New York from the 1940s. Unlike water-based acrylics, Magna dissolved in turpentine and dried to a matte finish. It was used by Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, and Roy Lichtenstein. Production ceased in the 1990s.
Artists who use this(3)
Mark Rothko
Community note
“Rothko used Bocour Magna acrylic and oil paints; he consulted with Leonard Bocour about paint formulation. Rothko's use of Magna is documented in conservation studies of the Seagram Murals and in Dana Cranmer's research on his materials.”
Helen Frankenthaler
Community note
“Frankenthaler used Bocour Magna acrylic for her soak-stain paintings, including "Mountains and Sea" (1952). Leonard Bocour supplied paints to many of the Color Field painters. Documented in conservation literature.”
Jasper Johns
Community note
“Johns used Bocour encaustic and oil paints for "Flag" (1954-55) and his subsequent targets and numbers paintings. His use of encaustic is documented in conservation studies at MoMA.”
Last updated March 7, 2026