Second Theme
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.
Artwork Details
- Title: Second Theme
- Artist: Burgoyne Diller (American, New York, New York 1906–1965 New York, New York)
- Date: 1949
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 26 1/16 × 26 1/8 in. (66.2 × 66.4 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Gift of William Benenson, 1991
- Object Number: 1991.402.7
- Rights and Reproduction: Art © Estate of Burgoyne Diller/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY
- Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art
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