Planar Tension with Red 1926

Curator: Willi Baumeister's "Planar Tension with Red," crafted in 1926, offers a delightful plunge into the geometric dance of Constructivism. It just tickles the senses, doesn't it? Editor: It does. My first thought is how delicate the balance feels despite the firm geometric forms. All these muted, chalky hues… are we sure it’s acrylic paint? It almost has the finish of distemper. Curator: The colors absolutely sing together, don’t they? Especially that almost blush-like pink alongside the bolder red and grounding yellow. It's a symphony of understated power! It's remarkable considering Baumeister was deeply involved in set design during this period. You see that sensibility coming through in the constructed space of the composition, that very shallow picture plane. Editor: Precisely, I immediately saw how his theater work must have impacted the flat, almost layered appearance, almost like applied paper. Speaking of production, you know he embraced industrial materials, moving away from purely fine art materials and challenging notions of artistic labour? It’s intriguing that despite these supposedly “tension”-filled planes, there’s a real tranquility in its execution. Curator: I think it's about visual problem-solving. You have these rectilinear forms pushing against each other in ways that don’t always follow logical rules. Where’s the real or perceived push-and-pull between the forms? Then consider his background and experiences living in a postwar Europe and perhaps an idea comes to mind. Editor: Or is the tension a challenge to the viewer? With acrylics taking centre stage instead of oils, the piece certainly challenged convention in its production and the reception of the art world at the time. But, to be fair, “tension” always seems so fraught; it also captures how these colors push up against the bland canvas so deliberately. Curator: And ultimately, it’s a gorgeous dance on canvas, isn’t it? All those rectangular figures moving harmoniously and in their own tension-filled bubble. Editor: Absolutely. And looking closer, you can really see the mark of production. A simple, block painting but no less engaging for its creation.