Cathedral 1959

Editor: So here we have Hans Hofmann’s “Cathedral” from 1959. It’s a pretty large mixed-media work… mostly striking rectangles of bold color. There’s a powerful sense of structure but also… playful chaos? How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, first, let’s consider the title: "Cathedral." Immediately, I think of soaring heights, stained glass casting kaleidoscopic light… something both grounded and aspirational. Do you see echoes of that in the painting itself? To me, it feels like Hofmann is wrestling with the monumental. Editor: I do now, definitely, the sheer scale feels almost… overwhelming, like standing at the base of something huge. But the colors! So vibrant for something calling itself ‘Cathedral.' I was expecting something…gothic. Curator: (Chuckles) Precisely! Hofmann throws a curveball. He's less interested in the literal representation, and more in the experience of awe. He aims to create a sense of space and depth with these "push and pull" effects. How do the colors affect your perception? Do some colors advance, while others recede? Editor: Okay, now that you mention it, yes! The reds and yellows do seem to jump out at me, while the blues and greens create a sort of background rhythm. I never would've thought about cathedrals like this! Curator: Exactly, It challenges our expectations, doesn’t it? It is the point! And, that's the brilliance. We bring our associations, and Hofmann takes them and sets them dancing. Editor: It’s a lot more exciting than the cathedrals I’ve visited! I love how Hofmann takes something so traditional and makes it feel totally new and…electric. Curator: That’s the beauty of art – its capacity to take the familiar and transform it, through the eyes and hands of a singular soul.