The artwork, titled “Be II,” is a captivating piece created by the artist Barnett Newman between 1961 and 1964. This abstract work belongs to the Color Field Painting art movement.
The artwork features a large expanse of a light, almost off-white hue, dominating the majority of the canvas. The composition is interrupted only by a narrow vertical stripe of bright red on the left edge, which sharply contrasts with the subdued, monochromatic field that occupies the rest of the piece. Adjacent to the red line, a thin, almost imperceptible line of black forms a boundary at the extreme right edge, contributing to the overall minimalistic yet profound impact of the composition. This balance between the vast openness and the stark, vertical elements embodies the essence of Newman’s exploration in Color Field Painting, focusing on the relationship between space, color, and simplicity.