Untitled 1971

Moshe Kupferman created this untitled painting using oil on canvas. A prominent feature is a grid-like structure, overlaid and intersected by broad strokes forming an ‘X’ shape. The grid, often a symbol of order and control, appears throughout art history, from city planning to artistic compositions. It’s a framework upon which we impose structure. However, here, the bold, disruptive 'X' challenges this order, a motif seen in ancient heraldry and modern graffiti alike. The ‘X’ can be seen in the cross of Saint Andrew, but also as a symbol of obliteration, or cancellation. This imposition, layered upon the stable grid, stirs deep-seated psychological responses, perhaps reflecting a subconscious tension between the desire for order and the inevitability of chaos. The artist seems to be speaking to a primal struggle, a dance between creation and destruction that resonates across millennia. This is not merely an abstract painting, but a canvas where ancient symbols find new life.