Canto XV 1963 - 1964

Editor: This is Barnett Newman's "Canto XV," and, goodness, it's red. A visceral, bold red split by a slightly lighter stripe. It’s incredibly simple, but I find myself a little intimidated. What do you make of it? Curator: Intimidated, eh? Well, perhaps that's the point! Newman wanted to cut through the noise, to present something primal. That zip, as he called it, isn’t just a line; it’s a confrontation. Does the color alone evoke a response? Editor: Absolutely. It's almost aggressive, demanding attention. But is that all there is? Curator: Maybe. Maybe not. Think about the title, "Canto." It suggests a song, a fragment of a larger narrative. But what story does this red sing to you? It’s up to you to decide, isn't it? Editor: Hmm, I never thought of it that way. It feels less intimidating now, more like an invitation. Curator: Precisely! Art isn't always about answers, but about the questions it stirs within us.