1957-J No. 2 1957

Clyfford Still made this painting, 1957-J No. 2, with oil on canvas. Note the stark contrast between the black, red, and white sections of the canvas. Still applied the oil paint in thick layers using tools such as palette knives to create jagged textures. Look closely at the way he has built up the paint. The edges of the colors look torn, as though revealing raw emotion. Still's methods resonate with those of industrial labor, where materials are shaped through force. His act of painting becomes one of physical engagement with his medium, blurring the boundaries between artistic creation and physical labor. Ultimately, by understanding the materials, the making, and the context of the artwork, we can start to challenge the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, and better appreciate the role of labor and materiality in abstract expressionism.