Loggia 1982

Ron Gorchov created this oil on canvas, Loggia. As we consider the image, we need to remember the late twentieth century was a time when the institutions of art came under intense scrutiny. This painting evokes a sense of place, maybe even a classical structure, but does so through pure color and form. Made in the abstract expressionist style, its politics might not be immediately obvious, but we can ask what it means to prioritize private feeling over the more public-facing styles that preceded it. Did abstract expressionism express the optimism of the postwar consensus, or did it reflect a deeper sense of alienation? Was it truly non-political? By attending to the artist's manifestoes and the critics who championed their work, we can better understand the many social forces that shaped the making of art, even art that seems to resist interpretation. The meaning of art always depends on its social and institutional context.