Untitled 1950

This painting by Princess Fahrelnissa Zeid employs a fiery palette of reds and yellows amidst a dark background. The composition evokes a sense of both chaos and energy. The dominance of red, often associated with passion and vitality, has permeated art across millennia. Think of the visceral intensity of the color red in Renaissance depictions of martyrdom or even its ritualistic use in ancient cave paintings. Here, the artist seems to tap into this primal connection, stirring subconscious associations. Just as the 'Pathosformel', the expression of passion, has been adapted and re-contextualized in art through the ages, the emotional intensity conveyed in this artwork links us to a broader narrative of human expression. The artist presents not just an image but a vibrant echo of our shared emotional memory.