Three Panels: Yellow, Orange, Blue 1997

Ellsworth Kelly created these shaped canvases, "Three Panels: Yellow, Orange, Blue," to explore the interplay between color, form, and space. These aren't paintings in the traditional sense, but carefully crafted objects. The way these panels are made is key to their impact. Each form is cut from canvas, stretched over a support, and then painted with a single, vibrant hue. Look at the edges – you can see how precisely the canvas has been shaped. This precision isn't just about aesthetics; it's about control. The artist wants to make something that embodies industrial qualities, with flat, machine-made perfection, while remaining hand-made. Kelly engages with the tradition of painting while pushing against its boundaries. By emphasizing the objecthood of the canvas, he challenges the traditional hierarchy between painting and sculpture, inviting us to see the potential for art in the everyday. Ultimately, this work invites us to reconsider the very definition of art, moving beyond traditional categories and embracing the material world around us.