Thursday, January 21, 2010
Color: the infinite magician
Of all the elements that go into making a work of art, perhaps the strongest influence of all belongs to color. Colors have a strong effect on our emotions. They can create almost any kind of mood. According to where and how they are used, they can make us feel cheerful or depressed, excited or soothed, filled with longing, or at peace. In addition to subject matter, drawing, or design, color can be used to affect the emotions of the viewer.
Beyond art, color plays the same role in clothing, interior design, architecture—every visual aspect of life. So it’s not surprising to find that, at the Frick Collection in New York City, classic paintings hung against a wall newly painted in soft coral, seem themselves to have been newly restored. In the Frick’s East Gallery, the velvety coral walls sharpen details, brighten colors, clarify compositions and deepen meaning. It’s as if we are seeing these paintings for the first time.
The Frick Collection is a wonderful place for close encounters with some of the best of European painting; and with the recent renovations, the experience is enhanced even further.
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