Lot 143 – Diebenkorn 

Daniel Greene's "Lot 143 – Diebenkorn" presents a compelling arrangement of realism and abstraction, drawing us into a visual dialogue between art and commerce. The canvas is divided, both thematically and formally, juxtaposing a realistic depiction of an auctioneer with an abstract painting attributed to Diebenkorn. The abstract work, with its loose brushstrokes and blocks of green and blue, contrasts sharply with the meticulous detail of the auctioneer. This contrast isn't merely stylistic; it challenges our perception of value and artistic merit. Greene uses a semiotic system of signs: the auctioneer represents established values, while the Diebenkorn painting represents modern art's challenge to those values. The composition invites us to question how art's meaning and worth are constructed and negotiated within cultural and economic systems. The abstract painting, framed within the context of an auction, destabilizes fixed meanings, prompting us to reconsider the relationship between aesthetics and economics.