Frank Stella
The arrangement of concentric squares was a key motif for Stella. He explained that "...The concentric square format is about as neutral and as simple as you can get. It's just a powerful pictorial image. It's so good that you can use it, abuse it, and even work against it to the point of ignoring it. It has a strength that's almost indestructible - at least for me."
A classic example of Stella's famous dictum that "what you see is what you see", Cato Manor demonstrates the artist's insistence upon formal concerns rather than the romanticism that had dominated the Abstract Expressionist movement. The critic Paul Goldberger wrote that “...For Stella, the point was never the trick of pictorial perspective but the notion that the canvas was a real object existing in real space, with a real shape; not a window to another world but a full and complete world unto itself…" (P. Goldberger, “Frank Stella Architecture,” in G. Tinterow (ed.), Frank Stella: Painting into Architecture, exh cat., Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2007, p.11). This was equally true of his graphic works on paper.
Stella's titles, however, often confound this emotional distance by offering allusions to real-world events or locations. The title Cato Manor refers to racial disturbances in South Africa, as the site of a riot and a massacre in 1960. A direct relationship between the implications of the title and the painting remains slippery and elusive, yet a tension is undeniably established.
Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.
Framing - This piece has been framed by an experienced in-house framing team to conservation standards. This is included in the price. We use archival materials and 99% anti UV glass to ensure the long-term safety and stability of the artwork. All frames are bespoke, taking into account the precise needs of each piece in terms of preservation and presentation. Click here for more information.
Home Approvals - Want to see the artwork in situ? There is a lot to consider when buying art: artist, subject, age, provenance, budget, and we can only apologise for making it more difficult by having such fantastic works to choose from. To compensate, we’re delighted to be able to offer you a home approval if you live close to one of our Hidden cities. Click here for more information, or feel free to get in touch.
Worldwide Delivery - We offer free collection from any one of our galleries. Alternatively, we ship worldwide using a fully insured specialist art courier to ensure your new purchase reaches you without any fuss or stress. Please contact us for a quote or visit our Shipping FAQs for more information.
Hidden focuses on sought after, limited edition prints by the most illustrious artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Click here to view more work from our collection.
**Hidden is compliant with Anti Money Laundering regulations and registered with HMRC in accordance with 5AMLD. This means that should you wish to purchase work/s for the sterling equivalent of 10,000 Euros or over, we will ask you for some additional verification for anti-money laundering purposes.**