American Tragedy 1964

Ralph Fasanella made this painting, American Tragedy, layering image upon image in an all-over composition. The way he builds up these forms with flat, matte colors really lets the story come forward. Looking closely, you can see how Fasanella applied the paint, building layer upon layer to create depth and texture. Notice the reddish-brown that spreads out like a stain across the top of the canvas. The red pulls the diverse parts of the image together like a dark cloud. Against this background, the details of the figures, buildings, and signs really pop. Fasanella’s visual language feels related to that of someone like Philip Guston, especially in its willingness to embrace a direct, almost cartoonish style to tackle complex issues. Both artists remind us that art can be a powerful tool for questioning and understanding the world around us.