Untitled 1962

This striking abstract painting was made by Charlotte Posenenske, who died in 1985, using gestural brushstrokes of black paint on a white surface. Posenenske deliberately challenged traditional fine art, blurring the lines between painting and industrial design. The stark contrast of black on white immediately draws the eye, while the visible brushstrokes highlight the action of applying paint. The rough, expressive quality of the marks is notable. Posenenske engaged with a distinctly modern ethos, prioritizing industrial materials and processes. Her famous modular sculptures made of sheet metal, were designed for mass production. Considered in this context, even Posenenske’s paintings are more than aesthetic statements, they are experiments with the fundamentals of production, labor, and the artist’s own role within a capitalist system. Ultimately, Posenenske abandoned art altogether, choosing to work as a sociologist. Her choice underscores the connection between art and social context, urging us to consider the wider implications of materials, making, and our contemporary world.