The artwork titled “Drop,” created by Richard Smith in 1969, is a striking piece within the Hard Edge Painting movement, categorized as abstract. This piece manifests the principles of its movement through sharp transitions between geometric shapes and stark contrasts in color, defining the genre’s characteristic precision and clarity.
The artwork features a predominant dark purple background, radiating a sense of depth and infinity. Against this backdrop, a striking configuration of shapes emerges, most notably a sharp right-angle structure descending from the lower center of the canvas. This geometric form is accentuated with a vibrant palette of red, green, and orange hues, forming a stark contrast with the dark background. The overall composition exudes an illusion of a three-dimensional form, compelling the viewer to contemplate the interplay of shapes and colors in a space that transcends the two-dimensional plane. The meticulous arrangement of these elements highlights the artist’s expertise in evoking depth and dynamism within a minimalist framework.
