The artwork titled “# 9”, created by William Saroyan in 1963, belongs to the Abstract Expressionism movement and falls under the genre of abstract art.
The artwork comprises a series of colorful, looping brushstrokes that meander across a neutral background. Each stroke, executed in vibrant hues such as red, orange, green, blue, and purple, seems to follow its own rhythm, independent from and yet harmonious with the others. The fluid, freeform lines generate a sense of spontaneous movement, characteristic of Abstract Expressionism, invoking a feeling of lyrical abstraction and unrestrained creativity. The composition’s simplicity belies its complexity, inviting viewers to draw their interpretations from its undulating lines and vivid colors. The artist’s signature and date, written in the bottom section of the artwork, anchor its vivid dynamism in a specific moment in time.
