Open and Closed 1970

Editor: Adolph Gottlieb's "Open and Closed," created in 1970 using acrylic paint, is surprisingly playful for something deemed abstract. I am intrigued by the flat planes of color, almost childlike in their simplicity. How do you approach analyzing this piece? Curator: Considering Gottlieb's methods, how do you think the use of acrylics, a relatively new material at the time, impacted his artistic process versus, say, oils? Editor: Well, I imagine it sped things up. Acrylics dry so much faster, right? Maybe that allowed him to experiment more freely, leading to this stark contrast and layered composition. Curator: Precisely! The immediacy of acrylics aligns with the broader cultural shifts of the late '60s and early '70s—a move towards mass production and readily available materials. Does that influence your thinking at all? Think about consumerism at the time, and whether that could come into play when interpreting his work. Editor: That makes sense. There is almost a Pop Art vibe coming from the flatness of the shapes. And that little symbol on the bottom corner is kind of fascinating – it makes me think of a corporate logo! Curator: Consider the canvas itself as a manufactured object and then how his layering of flat colour works to potentially highlight that materiality as much as the final imagery? Editor: It almost challenges the traditional view of the artist as a singular genius, painstakingly creating masterpieces with classical techniques and drawing from classical ideals, in favour of something more…accessible? Something highlighting industry and progress rather than craft? Curator: Exactly. And with this new lens we also challenge established art hierarchies. This piece forces us to question what constitutes 'high art'. Something new to ponder. Editor: I'll definitely see abstract art in a new way now, focusing more on the how rather than just the what. Curator: Indeed! Now go forth and materialise all the art.