“Horizontal VIII,” created by Morris Louis in 1962, is an abstract piece belonging to the Color Field Painting movement. The artwork, made using acrylic on canvas, is part of the artist’s “Stripe” series. The artwork exhibits the characteristics of the genre through its use of vivid colors and simplistic composition.
The artwork is dominated by two horizontal bands of boldly colored stripes that run parallel to each other on a light background. The upper band features stripes in deep green, orange, blue, and brown, while the lower band displays stripes in blue, yellow, green, and black. Each stripe is meticulously applied, creating a smooth and continuous flow of color across the canvas. The spaces between the two bands emphasize the contrast and harmony of the colors, characteristic of Color Field Painting. The overall effect is one of structural simplicity combined with a striking visual impact.
