Untitled (Purple, Red and Green) 1959

Editor: Here we have Michael Rothenstein's "Untitled (Purple, Red and Green)," a print from an unknown date. The composition feels almost like a landscape, but disrupted. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The visceral quality of Rothenstein's marks pulls me in. Notice how the shapes, while abstract, evoke primal forms. The central purple shape, almost an eye, resonates with ancient symbols of perception. What memories do these colours and shapes stir in you? Editor: I guess I didn’t think of it that way, but now I see how the colours almost have a cultural significance. Curator: Precisely. The tension between the abstract and the representational invites us to tap into a collective visual vocabulary. It's fascinating how art can unlock these shared understandings. Editor: That really gives me a new perspective; thanks!