Suggested treatments of Auditorium for Theatre and Concert Hall, New York World’s Fair 1938

Winold Reiss made this design for an auditorium using gouache, perhaps as a sketch to show a client, or just to get his ideas down on paper. What I love about it is the process: the way the paint is applied in these creamy, smooth layers of yellow and white, like parallel lines that don’t quite touch. The gouache has a chalky, matte feel that soaks up the light, and those yellows are singing! They are so alive they almost vibrate. Look at how each line varies in thickness and texture, giving it a real sense of rhythm and movement. The whole thing reminds me a bit of the work of Hilma af Klint, especially the way the architectural lines are interwoven with a touch of decorative sensibility. I love to imagine Reiss experimenting with color and form, letting the medium guide him toward unexpected discoveries. For me, it’s a reminder that art is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.