Although the piece 'The Plough and the Song' can be considered minimal, the treatment of the background does not lend itself to the typical minimal nature. Instead of a flat ochre background, Gorky breaks up the negative space with a variation of midrange yellows with several different techniques of material application. Gorky pushes his anamorphic masses by surrounding them with a membrane of a light, flat, yellow tone. A color palette of reds, greens, blues to define the amoeba like forms that are strung together by thin, hairlike growths. Gorky's composition is centralized but by placing elements in three corners of the picture plane he avoids creating visual stagnation.
The piece calls to mind artists such as Miro, yet avoids overcrowding the composition. Gorky groups his forms in fours and fives, varying in size and opacity, from solid and razor edged to softened and compiled of it's own value scale.
The color palette falls into the earth tone category, yet relates to the imagery Gorky is creating. Similar to
No comments:
Post a Comment