Blueberry Eyes 1960

Franz Kline created this work, Blueberry Eyes, using broad strokes of color that might seem abstract at first glance. Yet, consider the power of these shapes and hues. Notice how the color blue dominates, a hue often linked to the Virgin Mary in religious art, symbolizing purity and serenity. The stark white pillar, reminiscent of classical architecture, contrasts sharply with the bold, almost aggressive slashes of black, which one might liken to the destructive forces of chaos or the subconscious. This interplay of colors and forms echoes a recurring theme throughout art history: the Apollonian and Dionysian duality, the balance between reason and chaos. Remember Nietzsche’s discourse on Greek tragedy? This motif, though stripped of its traditional visual language, conveys an intense emotional state, a struggle between order and primal energy. The symbolism continues to evolve through each artist's expression, resonating with our collective memory and subconscious fears.