Moment

Gallery Tate, London (the UK).

Canvas, oil.

The work was created at a vital moment in Newman’s career. The artist destroyed all the works he completed before 1944, as he “first created his concept and developed his style”. On the vertical rectangular canvas, the author placed a pale yellow vertical strip of paint. At first glance, it might seem that this place is an unprocessed canvas that divides the work into two equal parts and creates a bold contrast against the background of striped brown, gray and white shades. The artist made the strokes with force using a relatively dry brush on the surface of the canvas. Newman emphasized that his vibrating lightning does not divide the canvas but creates unity and harmony. For this reason, the author did not consider the vertical of the “Moment” successful – the bright edge of this strip splits the canvas and serves as almost a partition. Although the painting symbolizing the intermediate stage between Newman’s early paintings and his mature style was never exhibited during the author’s lifetime, it was later shown at large retrospective exhibitions.