15.10.67 1967

John Hoyland created this canvas, titled '15.10.67', drenched in fields of red and orange, and framed by a somber gray in 1967. These stark color blocks resonate with symbolic weight, inviting us to explore their complex meanings. Consider the color red, it pulsates with life-force—think of the ancient cave paintings using ochre to depict hunts, the lifeblood of both animal and human. Later, in religious iconography, red symbolizes sacrifice and passion. Here, the block of vibrant red clashes with the warm orange, the colors of earthly delights. But let us not forget the unlit gray that hovers above, a reminder of time and its passage. Here, the colors, in their bold simplicity, unlock powerful emotional states, speaking to our primal connection to color. The emotional impact of this image connects viewers to a collective memory, a shared human experience.