Blog post by Ariel Smullen

 

American artist Sol Lewitt is best known for his unique approach to art through concept.  He separates “the act of conceiving a work of art from the act of executing it” by creating diagrams for his pieces (MASS MoCA). Much like musicians reading sheets of music, these diagrams have concise directions that others could follow and apply to any wall at any location. Lewitt’s pieces take basic elements of art, such as the line and shape, and arrange them within a grid to compose the final piece. Lewitt was highly influenced by artist Mel Bochner, through the use of the grid and idea of progression. However, when Lewitt started to introduce bold colors into his pieces, his work tended to reflect the emotions fauvist paintings portrayed. His 1980 piece, Wall Drawing 340, is a great example of this and his conceptual way of thinking (MASS MoCA).

Lewitt’s work demonstrates the idea of instruction, progression, and order. In Wall Drawing 340, Lewitt focuses on the idea and results of color theory (MASS MoCA). On a technical level, this six-part drawing is equally divided horizontally and vertically and combines primary colors with line and shape. Each section follows the same system, a solid colored background with horizontal and vertical lines drawn on top with crayon to create a geometric shape through closure. The background of the intended primary or secondary shapes also appear to be a different shade of color than the actual background, when in reality, it is not.

However, on an emotional level, the result of this color theory experiment causes the same result as that of a Fauvist painting. The speckled nature of the crayon, along with the unique combination of the primary colors, causes retinal vibration. The warm colors tend to pop, while the cooler ones recede. Though Lewitt tried to keep emotion and meaning out of his pieces, this one does portray the emotional nature that a fauvist painting has. Both of their color combinations cause the same boldness and visual punch to a viewer.

 

Sol Lewitt, Wall Drawing 340, July 1980. Red, yellow, and blue crayon on red, yellow, and blue wall. Mass MoCA. Now through 2033

 

MASS MoCA. “Sol LeWitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective.” MASS MoCA. MASS MoCA. Web. 23 Mar

2014. <http://www.massmoca.org/lewitt/about.php>.