Relief sponge or (RE 47 II)

Mediums: sponges, pebbles and gold leaf on panel.
Location: private collection.

Even though Klein is better known for his ultramarine monochromes, he also used gold and red, which, together with blue, represented the theological secret of the Trinity. In this and related works, the author used gold to direct the viewer’s attention to space. The artist believed that gold symbolizes divinity and infinite space. He goes beyond the flat surface of the canvas, attaching a natural sea sponge and pebbles to the base – this created a textured relief. The rigid quality of the additions and their shape and texture resemble craters – those that are associated with the surface of Mars or the Moon.