Untitled (Orange and Black) 1998

This is Julian Lethbridge’s “Untitled (Orange and Black)”. The work, whose date is unspecified, is a screenprint on paper. Looking at it through the lens of the late 20th century, we might consider the ways in which abstraction provided a space for artists to engage with questions of identity and representation. Lethbridge, working within the tradition of abstract expressionism, creates a visual experience that’s less about direct representation and more about feeling and sensation. The high contrast between the orange and black creates a push and pull, a kind of visual tension. The shapes almost seem to be in motion. This piece reflects a larger societal move towards valuing individual expression and emotional depth, and it invites us to bring our own histories to the viewing experience. What do you feel when you look at this?