Number 17 1962

John McLaughlin created "Number 17" as a study of simple yet powerful color contrasts. At first glance, the painting presents three vertical blocks of red, black, and white, each demanding your attention with its stark presence. Notice how McLaughlin subtly includes a pale blue at the edge of the composition. McLaughlin challenges our expectations of depth and form. The seemingly simple structure encourages us to explore the surface and its effect on perception. There's no central object, and traditional perspective is entirely absent. McLaughlin invites viewers to contemplate the essence of painting itself. The relationships between the colors, and their juxtaposition, evoke a sense of balance and tension. The painting explores how minimal forms can still create complex experiences, destabilizing conventional aesthetic values and suggesting new modes of visual engagement.