The Club 1993

Robert Goodnough made this painting, called “The Club,” using acrylic on canvas. The way Goodnough has handled the acrylic is very interesting; it’s almost collage-like, with many distinct planes of color, often bounded by hard edges. It’s tempting to think of his method as a kind of abstract mosaic. But instead of using stone tesserae, a very ancient artistic choice, Goodnough uses paint. What interests me most is the inherent tension in the picture. It’s undeniably abstract, yet we still get a strong sense of a crowd of people, jostling for space. The material qualities of the paint contribute to this effect. The colors are layered in a way that seems almost casual, yet the overall composition is carefully controlled. The artist seems to embrace the inherent messiness of the medium to evoke the chaotic energy of social interaction. Ultimately, "The Club" challenges us to consider the boundaries between abstraction and representation, and between painting and other art forms. It reminds us that the meaning of an artwork is always tied to the materials and processes used in its creation.