Circle III 

Robert Goodnough made this abstract painting, "Circle III," using oil on canvas. It presents a fascinating puzzle of color and form within its circular boundary. Made in the United States, this work resonates with the concerns of post-war American abstraction, particularly the debates around order and chance. We see a grid-like structure struggling to contain an explosion of color, with drips and irregular shapes disrupting any sense of perfect geometry. This tension might reflect the social and cultural anxieties of the time, as America navigated its role as a global power. The institutional context of art is key here. Goodnough, like many artists of his generation, was deeply engaged with the New York art world, with its galleries, museums, and critical debates. His work reflects the search for a new artistic language that could capture the complexities of modern life. To understand "Circle III" better, we might delve into archives of art criticism, artists' writings, and exhibition histories. Art offers a window onto the social forces that shape our world.