The Acrobatic Rectangle, Per Six 1967

Alfred Jensen’s ‘The Acrobatic Rectangle, Per Six’ is an oil on canvas painting that shows a black and white geometric design. Though Jensen is often associated with the world of fine art, in this painting we see a strong emphasis on materiality and process that challenges this classification. Look closely, and you will see the paint is thickly applied with clear horizontal strokes, giving it a tactile quality. The contrast between the black and white sections creates a visual push and pull, enhancing the dimensional illusion, and it is this texture, weight and form that invite a material reading. This impression is enhanced by the ‘stitched’ borders of the painting. Jensen applied the paint with a commitment to his unique aesthetic language and symbolism. The painting possesses a symbolic significance that transcends conventional artistic expression. In summary, Jensen’s work invites us to reconsider the boundaries between high art and craft, and it is important to remember that our understanding should derive from material and making processes.