Diagonal Planes 1925

Frantisek Kupka made this oil painting, Diagonal Planes, in Paris. Though undated, it likely comes from around 1920. The image presents an arrangement of geometric forms in a limited palette of green, black, and white. Here, Kupka explores pure abstraction, moving away from any recognizable representation of the world. This turn towards non-figuration, emerging in the early 20th century, can be understood in relation to broader shifts in society. Industrialization and urbanization led artists to question traditional modes of representation, and to explore new ways of capturing the dynamism of modern life. In its radical rejection of established artistic conventions, abstraction can be understood as a progressive force, reflecting a desire to break with the past and embrace the future. To better understand Diagonal Planes, we might research the artistic and intellectual circles in which Kupka moved in Paris. We would look to historical and cultural context to appreciate his contribution to the development of abstract art.