The Big Splash (aka Tantrum I) 1959

Curator: Wow, that's bright. Almost shockingly joyful, in a raw, untamed sort of way. The red practically vibrates. Editor: Indeed, this vibrant composition is titled "The Big Splash," sometimes called "Tantrum I," created in 1959 by Perle Fine. It combines painting and collage—acrylic paint with adhered paper. Curator: Tantrum I! Yes, that title rings truer than "Big Splash," actually. There's something about the jagged edges of those white shapes against that fiery background that feels a bit… volcanic. But look at those stars sprinkled around; are they supposed to soften the effect? Editor: Fine’s work during this period aimed to explore the dynamic relationships between order and chaos. Abstraction, particularly in post-war American art, offered a vocabulary to process immense social change. It also echoes movements like Fauvism, known for their intense color palettes used to evoke powerful emotions. Curator: I can see that struggle, definitely, that push and pull between the careful placement of the geometric shapes and the almost primal scream of that red. The off-center composition really throws you, doesn't it? You’re never quite comfortable settling in. Editor: It is compelling, especially considering the role museums played in valorizing such bold departures from representational art. Galleries actively sought out expressions of personal turmoil as cultural signifiers. Curator: And the size, too, it really forces an encounter. So different from encountering, say, a quiet, diminutive still life; it's not inviting a polite conversation, it’s grabbing you by the collar. The museum visit becomes more visceral. Editor: Museums, by showcasing these types of bold displays, helped shape public perceptions of art and legitimized Abstract Expressionism as a critical component of our cultural landscape. Curator: The piece almost anticipates Pop Art—or does Pop Art look back here? So complex. Editor: Thinking about "The Big Splash," I’m struck by how it encapsulates a very particular moment in art history where personal expression took on this outsized cultural significance. Curator: Agreed. I come back to the idea that such a chaotic mess of conflicting geometric entities are placed beside pretty pink stars... perhaps an intentional move after all!