MET Assignment

   This is an untitled painting by Franz Kline created in 1952. I saw it and was immediately drawn to it because it looked like the artist that created it felt so free; almost as if the sides of the painting were cut off because the strokes seem to run off the canvas. This painting has visual unity. It achieves visual unity by emphasis by isolation and emphasis by placement. the box-like shape in the center of the paining is the focal point. My eye was drawn to it as soon as I looked at the painting. I think the artist was trying to express an emotion. I'm not sure how he was feeling or what he was thinking when he painted this, but I think he might have been trying to convey anger: almost as if the shape in the center of the box-like shape cannot get out. It looks slightly trapped inside it. Yet, I think the artist was freeing anger because the bold, black strokes go into the box a little and that center shape inside the box curves at the bottom, connecting with a the lower left stroke, which I think looks like it is being gently pulled out of the box. The line quality is very bold and fearless. I would say there is explicit line drawing my eye to the center, becoming thicker towards the focal point. 

The lower painting is by Clyfford Still, untitled, and created in 1977. It was one of my favorite pieces that I saw at the MET. It is so simple and minimal, but there is a complexity to it as well. The placement of the marks are so carefully thought out. Its so still and serene. I felt relaxed when I saw it. There is great balance in here. The black mark balances out the red and yellow marks. There is very apparent implied line; the marks feel and look as if they are being pulled together. There is harmony in this painting because she shapes of the marks have a feathery edge to them, fading out, creating a softness throughout the painting. It achieves visual unity by proximity. The elements are placed closely together and that creates a relationship between the marks. It also achieves unity by chaos and control. The shapes are not remotely neat in any way. They are slightly messy, but, the way they are placed on the canvas is very controlled. I think that is what the artist was trying to convey in this painting

These paintings relate because they both achieve visual unity and that marks and line quality are both very bold. They are both abstract and they both convey an emotional reaction: the black and white painting is more messy and angry and complex, and the colorful one has a calm simplicity to it.  They are different because while the first painting is very chaotic, the bottom one is controlled and chaotic at the same time. Both paintings have strokes that look very free.