Central Density

Werner Drewes, Central Density, 1973, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1975.116
Copied Werner Drewes, Central Density, 1973, oil on canvas, 39 3⁄4 x 33 3⁄4 in. (101 x 85.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1975.116

Artwork Details

Title
Central Density
Artist
Date
1973
Location
Dimensions
39 3⁄4 x 33 3⁄4 in. (101 x 85.8 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract — geometric
Object Number
1975.116
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1975.116

Artwork Description

Werner Drewes experimented with printmaking his entire life, but considered himself primarily a painter. In Central Density the diagonal lines create a sense of depth, leading from the edges of the canvas to a converging point in the center. The composition evokes mirrors placed at different angles, reflecting and refracting chunks of colored light. It is easy to imagine getting lost in this maze of color, because we cannot tell what is "real" and what is a reflection.