Untitled 1971

This untitled painting was made in 1971 by Frank Lobdell. The arrangement of bulbous shapes recalls the biomorphic forms that were popular among abstract painters in the mid-20th century. But what are we to make of this image today? Painted in California, it can be seen to reflect Lobdell’s interest in Zen Buddhism, which was important to the Bay Area artistic community at the time. We might see it as a visual meditation. Yet the painting also reflects Lobdell’s time as a soldier during World War II. The shapes could resemble bodies, and the black lines might represent barbed wire, suggesting that for Lobdell, the legacy of war could not be escaped. The interpretation of art relies on an understanding of history and biography. What can letters, journals, and exhibition reviews tell us about an artist’s intentions? By exploring these resources, we can better understand the place of an artwork in its social and institutional context.