Vertical: January 1956 1956

Patrick Heron made Vertical: January 1956 using oil paint on canvas. Here, we find a striking arrangement of vertical strokes, a visual rhythm dominated by blues, greys, and punctuations of yellow and red. The composition feels both structured and spontaneous. Heron’s work exists within a lineage of abstract expressionism, yet it stakes its own territory. The arrangement of forms suggests a kind of visual language, where each stroke could be a signifier in a larger semiotic system. Does the painting challenge fixed meanings? Possibly. The work invites us to abandon fixed meanings and engage with the pure aesthetics of colour and form. Notice how Heron’s choice to orient the composition vertically affects our perception. This orientation isn't just an aesthetic choice, it directs how we engage with the artwork, drawing our eyes upwards, inviting us to contemplate the interplay between color and form. Such exploration ensures that art remains a dynamic site of interpretation, a mirror reflecting our ever-evolving understanding of the world.