Abstraction bleue 

Curator: Standing before us is Andre Lanskoy's "Abstraction bleue," a mixed-media piece demonstrating abstract expressionism. It's quite something to behold, isn't it? Editor: Yes, the first thing that strikes me is the intensity of the blue. It’s a really dominating hue and then all of this overlaid impasto and scrawled linework create a chaotic and intense effect. It definitely overwhelms the other colors used here. Curator: Absolutely. Lanskoy was working during a period profoundly impacted by World War II and the burgeoning Cold War; the intense blue and the chaotic composition perhaps mirror the pervasive anxieties and political turmoil of that era. Considering the political upheavals in Europe at the time, this artwork, to me, seems to reject traditional forms in favor of conveying raw, unfiltered emotions and speaks to the disorienting experience of rapid societal change. Editor: That's a very interesting contextualization. Looking at the painting solely on its own terms, though, the structural components are what catch my eye. Note the use of impasto and thick layers of acrylic paint that create a very tangible surface. I feel the eye is forced to dart from one visual element to another in a visual dance. Curator: Indeed. And if we bring into view that he belonged to the School of Paris movement and emigrated from Russia during a period marked by ideological struggles, it becomes easier to understand how that dislocation shaped his vision and his technique in attempting to establish new foundations with abstraction. What feelings arise for you? Editor: Well, as I engage with this interplay of colors and lines, there’s a sense of restlessness. While the color palette has these vibrant accents and hints of white or yellow peeking out, blue definitely sets an enigmatic tone that could reflect Lanskoy's artistic mindset, as well. Curator: That is well articulated. "Abstraction bleue" isn’t merely a display of color; it's a portal into the lived experience and ideological conflicts shaping Lanskoy's art and era, and how societal tensions shape individual artistic output. Editor: On a formal level, I really see it now. Thank you for walking me through how Lanskoy's painting uses color, line and material. This has encouraged me to rethink about abstraction in art today!