Untitled 1970

Editor: Here we have Robert Goodnough’s “Untitled” piece from 1970, done with acrylic paint. The pastel geometric shapes are arranged so delicately... It feels like a flock of birds taking flight, yet somehow grounded. What do you see in it? Curator: Considering its creation in 1970, and understanding Goodnough’s abstract expressionist background, this piece exists in the context of a shifting art world. The hard-edged geometry seems to reject the gestural drama of earlier Abstract Expressionism. This move toward planned, almost diagrammatic composition reflects a turn away from the heroic individual and towards more systemic ways of thinking about art. Editor: So, it’s not just a pretty pattern? Curator: Exactly! This work engages with the growing public role of art in a changing society. There was a move in art during that time to embrace formalism in reaction to increasingly pervasive political demonstrations. It embraces surface, color and space in ways that seem utterly non-referential. Can art truly be neutral? Editor: I see what you mean! I hadn’t considered the context, I was mostly taken in by how calm and soothing the composition feels. Curator: And that feeling of calm is also part of the picture. What could it mean for an artist to prioritize such a removed and formal experience at such a pivotal time in American history? Editor: Thinking about the period, I can now see a different tone - it becomes charged with political tension by its apparent indifference. Thank you! Curator: Likewise. The conversation illuminated facets of historical context I appreciate re-visiting.