The artwork titled “Number 32” by Morris Louis, created in 1961, is a piece from the Color Field Painting movement. Executed using magna on canvas, this abstract work, measuring 209.6 x 106 cm, is a part of Louis’s “Stripe” series.
In “Number 32,” Louis employs a minimalist approach, featuring a series of vertical stripes aligned in a narrow band towards the right side of the canvas. The stripes, rendered in bold hues including black, yellow, orange, green, and red, stand in stark contrast to the vast expanse of negative space, predominantly a plain white, that dominates the rest of the canvas. This work exemplifies the principles of Color Field Painting, where color itself becomes the primary mode of expression, conveying a sense of depth and intensity through its pure, unmodulated use. The clean, vertical bands of color invite the viewer into a contemplation of form, space, and the emotional resonance of the hues presented.
