Red Diagonal 2007

Ellsworth Kelly's Red Diagonal presents us with a stark interplay of forms: a vivid red diagonal bar boldly bisecting a pristine white square. Red, the color of blood and passion, clashes against the purity of white. But let us delve deeper into the diagonal line itself. Throughout art history, the diagonal has served as a dynamic force. Think of the "Descent from the Cross," where the body of Christ is often arranged along a diagonal, conveying grief and instability. Here, in Kelly’s work, the diagonal line challenges our sense of balance. It introduces movement and tension, disrupting the static harmony of the square. This tension is psychologically evocative. It mirrors the unease and dynamism of modern life. Just as the diagonal has been used to convey drama and emotion in the past, here it serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and contradictions inherent in our experience. Consider how symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings. The diagonal, once laden with religious and emotional weight, is now a symbol of modern abstraction.