The artwork titled “Canto XII” was created by Barnett Newman in 1964, in the United States. It is associated with the Color Field Painting movement and is characterized as an abstract genre creation.
This particular piece features a large, solid field of yellow color occupying the majority of the canvas, which exhibits a minimal and flat appearance typical of Color Field paintings. Adjacent to this yellow field is a narrower vertical stripe or band of an olive green hue, with slight variations and a textured surface that might suggest a sense of depth or wear. This stripe is an example of what Newman called a ‘zip,’ a distinctive feature in his work meant to evoke complexity and spatial structure within the simplicity of the broad color areas. Overall, the composition is stark and relies on the juxtaposition of color and the subtle relationship between the two predominant fields to convey its message and evoke an emotional response from the viewer. There is an intentional lack of representational imagery, guiding the focus to the color, scale, and the viewer’s own interpretation.
