Painted canvas fragment c. 20th century

Editor: This Painted Canvas Fragment is by Barnett Newman, but the date is unknown. What strikes me is the raw edge contrasting against the boldness of the red paint. What do you make of it? Curator: Consider the canvas itself. Its roughness, the exposed weave, challenges the preciousness often associated with fine art. How does this fragment disrupt our understanding of Newman's process and the art market's valuation of his work? Editor: So it’s not just about the image, but also what it's made of and how it was made? Curator: Exactly. The materiality speaks to the labor involved, and the 'fragment' suggests a deconstruction, a questioning of the complete, finished artwork. It redirects our attention from the aesthetic to the means of production and consumption of art. Editor: I hadn't considered the fragment as a commentary on the art market itself! Thanks! Curator: Thinking about art this way opens up a whole new perspective, doesn't it?