Blanc 1947

Auguste Herbin, a key figure in the development of abstract art, created this painting, titled "Blanc," with oil on canvas. Herbin emerged from a time of shifting artistic values, navigating between figuration and abstraction. Herbin believed that forms and colors had inherent emotional and symbolic values, and that art should aspire to universality. He saw abstraction as a way to strip away the superficial and get to the deeper truths of human experience. The painting is a structured arrangement of geometric shapes, including circles, triangles, rectangles, and a square, rendered in a palette of pinks, purples, yellows and reds against a black background. The title, “Blanc” or white, is situated as a foundational block at the base of the painting. The composition emphasizes balance and harmony while evoking emotion. It invites contemplation on the relationship between form and feeling. Herbin’s work reflects a desire to create an art that could speak to all people, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers.