Second Theme

Burgoyne Diller

1949 · Oil on canvas · Modern and Contemporary Art

For almost three decades (1930s–1965), Diller pursued the three compositional variants he had devised for his geometric abstractions. While most of these works are executed in bright red, blue, yellow, black, and white paint, others are limited to black, white, and gray, and emphasize structure over dynamism. When this painting was shown in New York in 1949, Diller was well regarded in the American arts community; shortly thereafter, he was eclipsed by the Abstract Expressionists whose emotional, gestural paintings differ from his highly controlled, intellectual designs.

Artist

Burgoyne Diller

Date

1949

Medium

Oil on canvas

Department

Modern and Contemporary Art

Credit line

Gift of William Benenson, 1991