Transection No. 7 1970

Clarence Holbrook Carter made *Transection No. 7* using paint on canvas to explore themes of modern life. With its sharp lines and flat planes of color, the work evokes a stark, geometric landscape. The cool detachment of the painting's style is interesting when we consider the amount of labor involved in its creation. The precision in its execution is hard-won. The work's title, "Transection," suggests a kind of dissection or cross-section, perhaps a view into the hidden structures underlying our world. The composition draws attention to the interplay between surface and depth, illusion and reality. In Carter's hands, the medium of paint becomes a tool for interrogating our relationship to the built environment. By drawing our attention to the way the artwork is made, we appreciate the way in which materials and processes play a central role in shaping the work’s meaning.