It is Cheaper to Ride on the Roofs of Taxis Than Inside Them (Scott Floating) 1973

Charles Blackman's painting, "It is Cheaper to Ride on the Roofs of Taxis Than Inside Them (Scott Floating)", uses somber colors, a combination of hard-edged structures and ambiguous figures, to create a feeling of melancholic detachment. The composition is built around contrasts: the solid form of the suited man in the foreground is juxtaposed with the ghostly woman beside him. The geometric, angular lines of the cafe, in the background, contrast with the fluid, indistinct shapes that form the lower portion of the painting. Notice how the man is rigidly constructed with firm lines, while the woman is almost transparent. These juxtapositions are not just formal; they suggest a deeper commentary on alienation and subjective experience. The title itself suggests a perspective from outside the conventional or accepted, aligning with Blackman's exploration of emotional and psychological states. It's in this balance, or imbalance, that the painting finds its compelling, unresolved tension.