Untitled Composition 

Marcelle Cahn made this untitled composition in 1957-76, during a period of experimentation with geometric abstraction. Cahn, who was associated with the Bauhaus movement, lived through both World Wars, events which shaped her artistic vision. As a Jewish woman in Europe during this tumultuous era, Cahn confronted significant challenges. These experiences likely influenced her move towards abstraction as a way to express complex emotions and ideas without resorting to direct representation. Here, simple shapes and colors create a visual language that feels both precise and open to interpretation. The composition feels balanced yet dynamic, with a playful arrangement of circles, lines, and rectangles. Her work invites us to reconsider established notions and embrace alternative perspectives, suggesting a dialogue between form and freedom. The simplicity and the color choices evoke a sense of optimism and resilience. It is like the world, broken but still standing.