Column Structure IX 2006

Robert Mangold’s "Column Structure IX" is made from painted canvas, with graphite lines, and exemplifies his distinctive approach to geometric abstraction. Here, sections of canvas are joined to create a non-traditional support, which immediately makes you think about the handwork involved in its construction. The subtle texture of the canvas and the delicate graphite lines introduce an element of human touch, which is crucial to understanding the work, and creates a visual tension between the hard-edged shapes and the soft imperfections of the hand-drawn lines. The bright monochrome color emphasizes the physical presence of the canvas. The grid lines beneath the surface, and the shapes it contains, are the result of an artistic process that brings mathematics and manual work together. Mangold pushes the boundaries of painting by questioning the conventions of its materials, production, and, ultimately, its definition.