The artwork titled “Four Panels” by Ellsworth Kelly, created in 1971, is a notable example of Color Field Painting, which is an art movement characterized by large fields of flat, solid color spread across or defining the canvas, in this case aptly captured in an abstract genre. This piece embodies a clean, minimalist approach to abstraction.
Describing the artwork in detail, it consists of a series of four vertically-oriented rectangular panels, each uniformly filled with a distinct color. From left to right, the panels feature a vibrant green, a deep black, a bold red, and an intense blue. The colors are flat and unmodulated, presenting no texture or variation in hue. The boundaries between the panels are sharply defined, emphasizing the purity and simplicity of each individual color. The arrangement and size of the panels create a rhythm and balance that is appealing to the viewer. The use of such striking and unadulterated colors reflects Kelly’s interest in the interaction between color and form and their ability to transcend the boundaries of the canvas, inviting viewers to consider the relationship between the artwork and the surrounding space.
