The Station of the Cross - Thirteenth station 1966

Barnett Newman created "The Station of the Cross - Thirteenth Station" using stark contrasts and monumental scale to evoke profound emotional and philosophical responses. The painting is dominated by expanses of black, interrupted by a vertical white stripe, or 'zip' as Newman called them. This seemingly simple composition is charged with symbolic meaning. The black might suggest the weight of suffering and the void of loss, while the 'zip' offers a glimmer of hope or transcendence. Newman's use of abstraction invites us to confront fundamental questions about existence, spirituality, and the human condition. The scale of the canvas envelops the viewer, creating an immersive experience akin to a religious encounter. Here, the formal elements—color, line, and scale—combine to destabilize traditional notions of representation, pushing art towards a more direct expression of existential truths.