Scattered Light 1964

Beauford Delaney created this painting, Scattered Light, using oil on canvas. Delaney, an African-American artist who spent much of his career in Paris, often used vibrant color and light to express a sense of joy and spirituality. In this abstract work, we see an all-over composition, where no single point dominates. It might be considered in relation to American abstract expressionism, but Delaney developed his unique style outside the mainstream New York art world. Delaney's work can be read as a response to the social realities of his time, especially racial segregation and discrimination in the United States. His use of light can be seen as a metaphor for hope and resilience in the face of adversity. His paintings evoke a sense of the artist's personal experiences and his engagement with the world around him. Historians draw on letters, biographies and exhibition reviews to better understand Delaney and the cultural contexts that shaped his art. Ultimately, Scattered Light reminds us that the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.