Composition with Large Blue Plane, Red, Black, Yellow, and Gray — History & Facts
A large blue rectangle dominates the upper right section of the canvas, bordered by crisp black lines. On the left side, a tall white rectangle stretches from the top to the lower third, interrupted by a single horizontal black band. The lower left corner features a compact red rectangle, pressed tightly against a deep black vertical block.
A brilliant yellow square sits in the bottom right, nestled against a pale gray strip that runs along the entire lower edge. White fields fill the center and lower middle, their surfaces subtly varied by visible brushstrokes and a matte, even texture. The black lines are sharply defined and of varying thickness, forming a grid that divides the composition into distinct geometric segments.
The paint appears thinly applied in some areas, allowing a faint sense of the canvas texture to emerge, especially in the blue and gray zones. The composition is rigorously ordered, yet the different sizes of rectangles and the bold placement of color create a dynamic equilibrium. A thin black horizontal line runs parallel to the upper edge, separating the large blue plane from the white rectangle on the left.
The top left corner contains a small white square bordered by black lines on two sides. The black vertical band in the lower left extends upward, forming a strong boundary between the red and white rectangles. The rightmost edge of the blue rectangle aligns closely with the right edge of the canvas, leaving only a narrow white border.
The yellow square in the bottom right is bordered on two sides by black lines and on the other two by the gray and white fields. Subtle variations in the blue plane reveal diagonal brushstrokes and faint streaks of lighter blue. The black lines are slightly uneven in width, with some edges showing minor irregularities where the paint meets the adjacent color blocks. The title, Composition with Large Blue Plane, Red, Black, Yellow, and Gray, directly describes the main color areas and the abstract nature of the scene.
Sources: Dallas Museum of Art, record 1984.200.FA · Wikidata Q18667211
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