“Vertical Horizon” is a notable work by the artist Morris Louis, created in 1961. This abstract painting falls within the Color Field Painting movement, employing acrylic on canvas as its medium. The artwork stands at an impressive 207 by 83.8 centimeters and is part of the Stripe series by Louis. With its emphasis on simplicity of color and form, it exemplifies the characteristics of its art movement and period.
The artwork displays a series of vertically oriented stripes with a dynamic range of colors. The stripes run the full length of the canvas, and their colors appear to bleed into one another, showcasing the fluidity and transparency characteristic of Louis’s technique. The background against which the stripes are set is neutral, highlighting the vibrancy of the colors and allowing them to stand out in stark contrast. The stripes do not have hard edges, instead, their boundaries are somewhat diffused, contributing to the overall sense of movement and depth within the painting. Through this simplicity and the interplay of colors, Louis explores the visual and emotive potential of color itself, detached from any representational context.
