For John Keats 1978

Ronnie Landfield created this untitled painting in tribute to John Keats, using acrylic on canvas. The painting is divided into three horizontal registers: a lilac color field at the top, a diffuse field of yellows, oranges and browns in the middle, and a band of solid pink at the bottom. The eye is drawn to the ambiguous boundary between the bands of color and the way these color fields interact. Landfield's abstract forms invite contemplation on the nature of color and form. The colors, reminiscent of a sunset, evoke Romantic themes of beauty, nature, and mortality. The pink color field provides a solid base which contrasts to the chromatic complexity above. It grounds the composition, and destabilizes any horizon line, allowing the viewer to explore the painting's surface and the optical effects of color and light. Ultimately, the painting functions as a chromatic experience. It invites us to consider how color can shape our perception, create emotional resonance, and trigger philosophical inquiry.