Untitled 1945

Barnett Newman, a first-generation American born to Polish-Jewish immigrants, created this painting which appears to be on canvas, and is absent of a title, asking us to look at the artwork without the preconceived notions that language can sometimes impose. Newman emerged as an artist during a period marked by the trauma of World War II and the Holocaust, events that profoundly influenced his artistic philosophy. His works often grapple with themes of existence, creation, and the human condition. While not explicitly representational, this painting evokes a sense of landscape or primordial space. The layers of color and the gestural marks hint at deeper, perhaps subconscious, narratives. Newman once said that he strived to achieve the "sublime" in his art, aiming to create experiences that transcend the everyday and connect with something greater. Consider how this painting creates a space for contemplation, inviting viewers to confront their own sense of being.