David Renner
We chose to examine an untitled painting by David Smith, painted in 1962 using spray paint and paper. This artwork had several objects created in the negative space of the painting. The painting is very abstract in the sense that one could take many different meanings from it. The only way know the true meaning of the painting would be to ask the artist himself. Through observation, we have come up with a couple possible meanings for what this painting could mean and why it is important.
The clearly defined quadrilaterals are put into contrast with the free flowing shapes shapes which are in the focal point of the painting. It appears that the rectangles are trying to escape the darkness and mystery of the center, and seek refuge among the lighter colors in the corners of the piece.
Another interpretation we had of this painting is that two people are standing on a platform in a time machine. The rectangle in the top right corner is a calender, and the one on the far left is a digital clock, both are flipping back and forth through time. The center is blurred because the objects inside the machine are beginning to phase into a different time period. The colors are all distorted due to the travel through time and space.
This painting shows a desire for knowledge and concrete ideas, in opposition to the ambiguity. It is important because it represents a unique style utilized in the 1960’s. It’s a unique painting because of the several meanings it could have behind it such as showing movement toward the unknown with time travel, or escaping the norm.
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