Untitled 

This untitled artwork is by Rubem Ludolf, who was active during a time of significant political change in Brazil. Ludolf's art often plays with geometric forms, and in this piece, we see bold rectangles of green, yellow, black, and gray, each bordered by a contrasting color. Abstract art like this emerged in Brazil during a period of modernization. Artists sought to express a sense of national identity that was forward-looking. But abstract art can also serve as a form of quiet resistance. During the years of dictatorship in Brazil, abstraction allowed artists to comment on the social environment in subtle ways, without being explicitly critical. Consider how the stark contrasts and clean lines speak to the complex relationship between visibility and invisibility. In this piece, one might ask: What is foregrounded, what is backgrounded, and who decides? The emotional power of this piece lies in its ability to evoke a sense of both order and tension, reflecting the social dynamics that shape our perceptions of reality.