Un ronde d'un nuit d'éte 1961

Richard Mortensen created this abstract composition, "Un ronde d'un nuit d'éte" using cut paper in shades of grey, white and blue. At first glance, the stark contrast between the colors evokes a sense of night and day, light and shadow. The composition is divided into distinct horizontal layers, each interacting with the other to create a dynamic interplay of form and space. The blue form drips down into the white shape below, suggesting a connection between the upper, more amorphous realm and the lower, more defined space. The white form has a cut-out in the bottom left, which invites the viewer's eye to travel around the composition in a cyclical manner. The tension between these shapes prompts questions about representation and reality, form and content. Mortensen's strategic use of shape, color, and composition invites us to contemplate the deeper structures that underlie our perceptions and experiences. Ultimately, the interpretation is left open, inviting ongoing dialogue and new ways of seeing.