The artwork titled “Untitled (Shoetree series)” was created by the artist Jay DeFeo in 1977. It belongs to the art movement known as Abstract Expressionism and is categorized within the abstract genre. This piece exemplifies DeFeo’s exploration of form and texture through a seemingly minimalist yet intricate composition.
In the artwork, a central motif that appears to be a distorted or abstracted form reminiscent of a shoe is presented in predominantly monochromatic tones. The composition is characterized by a combination of soft, blurred edges juxtaposed with more defined, textured surfaces. Various intersecting and overlapping shapes evoke a sense of depth and movement. The faint, sketch-like quality of some of the forms contrasts with the more solid, three-dimensional aspects of others, creating an interplay between presence and absence. This juxtaposition of light and shadow, along with the dynamic arrangement of forms, imbues the artwork with a complex, almost sculptural quality despite its two-dimensional nature.
