Untitled; verso: blank page 1964

Editor: This is Paul Feeley's "Untitled; verso: blank page," from around the 1960s. It’s watercolor on paper, and the soft shapes and colors feel very playful. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a quiet rebellion against the rigid formalism of the era. Feeley, working amidst the dominance of Abstract Expressionism, dared to embrace symmetry and bright colors. How might this be read as a political statement in a time of social upheaval? Editor: That’s a good question. It does seem like a softer approach than what you often see. Curator: Exactly. Perhaps Feeley is subtly challenging notions of masculinity and power within the art world. The feminine colors and geometric structure provide a sense of balance, and I think that adds to the radical statement. Editor: I never thought of it that way, but now I see how the work challenges norms! Curator: And that tension can be a source of power and progress.