Rock Totems 1948

Here, we see “Rock Totems”, an oil on canvas painting by John Ferren. Its stacked forms and striking color relationships immediately capture our attention. Ferren constructs a visual puzzle, challenging our perception with a play of solid geometry. Notice how Ferren uses form and color to create a sense of depth. The warm hues of reds, oranges, and yellows juxtapose against a black circle, and blocks of blue, creating a dynamic tension across the canvas. The composition’s layering of geometric shapes seems to hover between representation and abstraction, disrupting any singular reading. This approach destabilizes traditional representational conventions. Ferren's totemic arrangement may echo modernist interests in primitive art, yet the painting resists easy categorization. Ultimately, the painting serves as a site of constant interpretation, defying fixed meanings and inviting continuous engagement.