Black Virtue

Mediums: oil, canvas.
Location: The London Tate Gallery (the UK).

Three oil paintings, interconnected after they were created, are a horizontally oriented triptych. Its parts are three different works, differing in size and technique, but united by a single colour scheme and idea. The dominating black colour of the painting is combined with fragments of red, purple and brown, and thin white lines and contrasting fragments resemble broken glass or cracked ice. The breathtaking surreal landscape is complemented by several centrally placed surreal symbols resembling a spider, a rose and white birds. Working on this painting, Roberto Matta used the method of spontaneous associations, with the help of which he wanted to convey an extreme combination of beauty and violence.