Canto VII 1963

Editor: Here we have Barnett Newman's "Canto VII," created in 1963 using acrylic paint. It’s a print featuring these two bold vertical stripes of blue. There’s something calming, almost meditative, about its simplicity. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Newman, even with what some might see as simple lines, or “zips” as he called them, taps into primal symbolism. What do these vertical stripes evoke for you? Think of the pillars of a temple, the binary code of existence, maybe even standing figures. It is Canto VII from the larger “Cantos” series, so could this reference Ezra Pound? Editor: I can see that… pillars or standing figures for sure! The reference to the pillars in a temple makes a lot of sense. What about Pound's Cantos? Curator: The "Cantos," fragmented and deeply symbolic, seek to capture history and culture in lyrical bursts. Here, perhaps Newman offers a visual parallel, these "zips" acting as fragments of pure experience, moments of stark clarity amidst a sea of chaos, a visual memory. They may appear rigid, geometric but can you detect some imperfections and uneven surfaces? What effect might that have? Editor: Yes, they aren’t perfect lines at all. More like… rough edges! Maybe it's about grounding the spiritual in the real? Curator: Precisely. The texture is a link back to the human hand, isn't it? Newman sought to create art that was immediate, experiential, devoid of the clutter of traditional representation. Through color and form, he tried to touch the sublime, something universal and deeply human. It acts as a symbol of finding order. Editor: That’s fascinating. I’m starting to see beyond just the color and appreciate the symbolic depth he was aiming for. Curator: Indeed, a simple blue field can speak volumes, once we learn to listen to its language. What will you see next time, having this knowledge in mind?