Circus 1979

Gene Davis made this painting, "Circus," with stripes of color. It has a clear connection to broader movements in American art during the mid-20th century. Davis was associated with the Washington Color School, a group of artists working in Washington D.C.. They moved away from the emotional intensity of abstract expressionism, focusing instead on color and form. "Circus" is a great example of this approach. The stripes create a sense of rhythm and movement, and it invites you to respond to its pure color combinations. To better understand "Circus," we might look at the writings of art critics like Clement Greenberg, who promoted the idea of "pure abstraction." Or we could explore the history of museum exhibitions that featured color field painting, understanding that the meaning of art relies on specific social and institutional contexts.