Untitled (Abstract Still-Life) 1955

Claudessa E. Carter’s 1955 “Untitled (Abstract Still-Life)” utilizes bold, fragmented shapes and earthy colors to create a dynamic abstract still-life. The central object appears to be a stylized pineapple, its surface rendered in a geometric pattern, while the surrounding forms suggest a tabletop and other household objects. Carter’s exploration of shape and form in this print is characteristic of abstract expressionism, a movement that emerged in the mid-20th century and embraced subjective, expressive gestures.