The point of the scale is to stand so close, that it consumes your entire peripheral vision. That when you look at it, it's all you can see. No frame or wall that it's mounted on. When you're looking at it, it's ALL you can look at. It engulfs you on a visual and emotional level. Keep in mind with ALL paintings in history that the point was never to view it through a computer screen. They were created with scale and majesty in mind. Never be overly critical on a painting unless you've seen it in person.
This painting changed my life, I do not study art yet this was not lost on me. I had my breath actually taken away and was mesmerized, through and through, and I had never been in a state of wonder as pure as that ever before then
Well.... I've never seen a Newman up close, only from books and slides, but even so they are magnificent. In ways I can't explain they are calming and invigorating at the same time.
Yes, I agree. Rarely does a work of art elevate us to such a state of pure, ineffable, spiritual bliss. Hell, this stuff is even beyond the spiritual. It's a new realm of absolute experience. A new consciousness, of complete soul realisation. I'm with you.
The discussions of the choice of color started me down a line of thinking that changed my perspective & overall viewing experience of the work. In more traditional & conventional paintings, they are something that we as viewers act upon. They display themselves to be peered at, dissected, discussed, felt, etc. by us. A figure in this baroque painting is in red for these symbolic reasons for us to interpret. In this work, the painting is not red to be a conduit for our engagement on the painting; it’s red because there’s an inversion of the roles & is acting on the viewer. It’s red to confront us. Just as the size isn’t for our traditional interaction with display, but to move to surround us. It’s an inversion of what it means to view a painting. In a way, the painting is just as much looking at us. The meaning comes more from the experience than the typical expectations of the viewer, object roles.
I agree with the comment below, this painting to me askes me to contemplate from different perspectives, also, the zips in light and dark colors make my eyes compete, art is really amazing.
Abstract Sublime Art. I think the speaks are speaking to general and not going beyond what Newman was really expressing. It is not about the "painting" but about the abstract sublime using paint if that makes sense.
I was led to Google this Newman masterpiece from page 146 of Paul Tripp's Advent Devotional, Come Let Us Adore Him. I'm not a lover of abstract art in my home. I do love and admire abstract art for its personal interpretations and the way it encourages the mind to be used to its maximum that God created it for. The interpretations given here made me wonder if the whole thing had to do with bloodshed not only of World War II but the blood shed by Christ on the cross. (3 crosses and 3 sections of this masterpiece) One side of Jesus' cross had a repentant thief who went to Paradise with Jesus and the other side had an unrepentant thief who went to hell not heaven....2 different color ZIPS ! The zip lines fascinate me even more when one is White and the other is dark..... I start to expand on you pointing out possible biblical context. White for pure and dark for sin. Vertical for looking up to God and God looking down to us and coming to us in the form of the Christ child. And your reference to onement 1 compared to this huge ' man, heroic and sublime' . To me that indicates that we are all unique individuals as 1 small part of the universe.... Yet many individuals who died in World War II combine to make a Huge statement of bloodshed and also Huge statement of God's enormous LOVE * for humanity to send His only son to make the only way for us to be eternally with Him, our loving Father. *(Love symbolized br RED hearts ❤️)
You say, "ostentatious," I say, "bougie"... 🤣 Red's my favorite color, however, I agree that I'd have to stand before this to appreciate it fully. This is the most "do with it what you will" work I've seen on this channel yet. You are confronted with your own perceptions. As a 5'5" little guy, I know I'd be impressed by the immensity of it. Then I might be taken away by the pure red effect - there is no other time in my life where my entire visual plane will be filled with this color. I imagine that would do something to me and I'd love to find out what.
The point of the scale is to stand so close, that it consumes your entire peripheral vision. That when you look at it, it's all you can see. No frame or wall that it's mounted on. When you're looking at it, it's ALL you can look at. It engulfs you on a visual and emotional level.
Keep in mind with ALL paintings in history that the point was never to view it through a computer screen. They were created with scale and majesty in mind. Never be overly critical on a painting unless you've seen it in person.
Wonderful assessment, thank you for stimulating my intellect. What a gift the ability to feel and think about art is.
This painting changed my life, I do not study art yet this was not lost on me. I had my breath actually taken away and was mesmerized, through and through, and I had never been in a state of wonder as pure as that ever before then
Well.... I've never seen a Newman up close, only from books and slides, but even so they are magnificent. In ways I can't explain they are calming and invigorating at the same time.
Yes, I agree. Rarely does a work of art elevate us to such a state of pure, ineffable, spiritual bliss. Hell, this stuff is even beyond the spiritual. It's a new realm of absolute experience. A new consciousness, of complete soul realisation. I'm with you.
Marvelous explanations. Thank you!
I LOVE HIS GRANDNESS. HIS ABILITY TO WORK WITH SPACE AND MAKE SMALL THINGS PRESANT. I LIKE THE ZIPS. THANK YOU FOR THE UPLOUD.
The discussions of the choice of color started me down a line of thinking that changed my perspective & overall viewing experience of the work. In more traditional & conventional paintings, they are something that we as viewers act upon. They display themselves to be peered at, dissected, discussed, felt, etc. by us. A figure in this baroque painting is in red for these symbolic reasons for us to interpret.
In this work, the painting is not red to be a conduit for our engagement on the painting; it’s red because there’s an inversion of the roles & is acting on the viewer. It’s red to confront us. Just as the size isn’t for our traditional interaction with display, but to move to surround us. It’s an inversion of what it means to view a painting. In a way, the painting is just as much looking at us. The meaning comes more from the experience than the typical expectations of the viewer, object roles.
Newman creates space. Simply profound and beautiful.
I agree with the comment below, this painting to me askes me to contemplate from different perspectives, also, the zips in light and dark colors make my eyes compete, art is really amazing.
Abstract Sublime Art. I think the speaks are speaking to general and not going beyond what Newman was really expressing. It is not about the "painting" but about the abstract sublime using paint if that makes sense.
I am a big fan of his work since in art school, Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing arts
I was led to Google this Newman masterpiece from page 146 of Paul Tripp's Advent Devotional, Come Let Us Adore Him.
I'm not a lover of abstract art in my home.
I do love and admire abstract art for its personal interpretations and the way it encourages the mind to be used to its maximum that God created it for.
The interpretations given here made me wonder if the whole thing had to do with bloodshed not only of World War II but the blood shed by Christ on the cross. (3 crosses and 3 sections of this masterpiece) One side of Jesus' cross had a repentant thief who went to Paradise with Jesus and the other side had an unrepentant thief who went to hell not heaven....2 different color ZIPS !
The zip lines fascinate me even more when one is White and the other is dark..... I start to expand on you pointing out possible biblical context. White for pure and dark for sin. Vertical for looking up to God and God looking down to us and coming to us in the form of the Christ child.
And your reference to onement 1 compared to this huge ' man, heroic and sublime' .
To me that indicates that we are all unique individuals as 1 small part of the universe.... Yet many individuals who died in World War II combine to make a Huge statement of bloodshed and also Huge statement of God's enormous LOVE * for humanity to send His only son to make the only way for us to be eternally with Him, our loving Father.
*(Love symbolized br RED hearts ❤️)
You say, "ostentatious," I say, "bougie"... 🤣
Red's my favorite color, however, I agree that I'd have to stand before this to appreciate it fully.
This is the most "do with it what you will" work I've seen on this channel yet. You are confronted with your own perceptions. As a 5'5" little guy, I know I'd be impressed by the immensity of it. Then I might be taken away by the pure red effect - there is no other time in my life where my entire visual plane will be filled with this color. I imagine that would do something to me and I'd love to find out what.
Your looking at paint. I can go on , but I'll leave it at that.