White Curve VII 1976

Ellsworth Kelly’s "White Curve VII" is an exploration in paint of elemental shapes, starkly divided between darkness and light. This curve evokes a sense of division and transition, not unlike the crescent moon, a symbol steeped in cultural memory, representing cycles, change, and the passage of time across countless civilizations. In ancient Mesopotamia, the crescent was associated with the moon god Sin, embodying divine knowledge and nocturnal illumination. We find echoes of this in later cultures, where the crescent often signifies femininity, fertility, and the rhythms of life. Consider how this arc, a fragment of a circle, hints at completeness and continuity, yet remains incomplete. Psychologically, this interplay engages our subconscious desire for wholeness, compelling us to complete the form in our minds, bridging the gap between shadow and illumination. The emotional power of this simple division lies in its ability to evoke fundamental contrasts, continually reshaping our perception of balance and transformation through the ages.