Abstract Still

1948-C, 1948
Clifford Still (1904-1980)
Oil on canvas
80 7/8 x 68 3/4 in. (205.4 x 174.6 cm)
Image: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

I'm very excited that the source of this image, online collections of the Hirshhorn provides all the information that you usually have to contact the registrar or library of the owning institution to find out. Provenance, Exhibition history and a bibliography (click on the title to see)

Someone mentioned Clifford Still to me lately and I decided that I need to revisit his work. I never jumped at the opportunity to see a Still, often glazing over galleries of his work in major museums but aware that there are often permanent dedicated galleries to his work if not galleries named after him. This particular work I came across (and may have seen on my one visit to the Hirshhorn) on a blog post. She used as a successful example of an abstract work to prove a point about a bad painting by a DC lobbyist using the same color scheme. While she doesn't say much about 1948-C, her brief criticism of the "bad" painting is telling and a pretty good jumping off point to looking at a more successful painting.

Many have heard people refer to many Modern paintings as something that "my kid could do" or my "kid did something just like that", you may have said something similar yourself. Much abstract Modern work can be very difficult to approach with open eyes, but the more time you take to look the more I believe viewers begin to see beyond the "style". Fall into the color and composition, balance. This is not to say that you'll love it, maybe you will, which would be awesome, but if you have any interest in broadening your level of appreciation, stop and spend a little time with a new abstract painting next time you get the chance. *Note, as we can see by the lobbyist's painting (which I wholeheartedly agree with sparkle pony is crap) not all work is going to be good and that bad work often makes it's way into museums.

Twombly

Leda and the Swan, 1962
Cy Twombly
Oil, pencil and crayon on canvas
6' 3" x 6' 6 3/4" (190.5 x 200 cm)
Private collection or MoMA

So I thought I would break very far from my comfort zone and pick something that I don't like. Triggered by today's artdaily.org I thought of Cy Twombly. Twombly has been the artist that I decided I would not put any effort into. There are surely more, but I was allowing myself a well-known artist critically revered by many to fall into this camp. I'd wander Modern art galleries (1940s-1960s my happy element) but Twombly was one I could never get a handle on. His works simply push me away. I've decided to take another look now when I see one but I have yet to be drawn in on any level of interest or enjoyment. Even when my Modern art guru friend attempted to share with me some insight into the artist (and this was when I was in grad school and was supposed to be open to all) I said, no, thanks, I don't do Twombly, let's talk about something else.

I would be curious to hear what others (especially those without much art background) think of this piece and his other work (if you are interested in checking out more). Unfortunately I do agree with that reproductions of his work do them no justice (which is technically true of most all work, particularly large-scale work) but it surely gives you an idea of the content. Through a quick search it appears that his more recent work might hold a bit more interest for me, but I'll have to get back to you on that.

Okay and in a tangential relationship, looking for a good definition of Modern art online I discovered the Modern Art Board Game!!!