Apotheosis of Groundlessness 

R. B. Kitaj created this construction of flatly-painted color planes by means unknown to me. A skeletal armature ascends as if trying to reach an unseen higher plane, forming rows that recede into the distance of the painting, implying a vast, empty space. Consider the recurring motif of the arch, echoed in windows, doorways, and structural supports. The arch, from Roman aqueducts to Gothic cathedrals, traditionally symbolizes triumph, connection, and passage. Yet, here, these arches lead nowhere, supporting only emptiness. Think of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, intended to celebrate victory. Yet, this painting presents a deconstruction of that symbol, an inversion of its inherent meaning. The "groundlessness" Kitaj evokes suggests a psychoanalytic interpretation. The lack of a solid foundation might mirror the uncertainties and anxieties of the modern condition. It’s as if the collective subconscious is grappling with a loss of faith in traditional structures and meanings. The cyclical progression of the arch symbol reveals its capacity for reinvention, continually shifting meaning, reflecting our deepest cultural and emotional states.