Provenance: Private Collection, Madrid

ABOUT THE WORK

To understand Zobel we have to begin by accepting his complete rejection of figurative imitation. This rejection is perfectly obvious in the picture, but during the last mid-century, it may have not been easy for most of the people to accept. The work of Zobel is one in which the complex notions of contemporary art meet in a most refreshing manner. Zobel introduces a vibrant sense of spontaneity into his paintings, which in turn results in works that create an astonishing sense of calm to the viewer. In order for Zobel to achieve visual openness, areas of the canvas are left wistfully bare, thereby allowing the image to breathe and expand. The space in the painting is determined by value contrast as much as by the interaction of hues and the expansive backdrop.