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Red Yellow Blue White and Black II

A series of seven vertical rectangles of a single color—blue, red, white, and yellow, a black rectangle at center—arranged in a horizontal panel.
© Ellsworth Kelly Foundation

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  • A series of seven vertical rectangles of a single color—blue, red, white, and yellow, a black rectangle at center—arranged in a horizontal panel.

Date:

1953

Artist:

Ellsworth Kelly
American, 1923-2015

About this artwork

Red Yellow Blue White and Black II is an early example of Kelly’s multipanel paintings. While living in Europe between 1948 and 1954, the artist encountered winged altarpieces in churches and cathedrals, which sparked his interest in works composed of separate pieces. He began arranging the colors of his paintings using chance techniques, removing himself from decisions that would influence the aesthetic of the finished artwork. Rather than use handmade marks in this piece, Kelly relied on intersecting edges and flat planes of monochrome color to express form.

Status

On View, Gallery 297

Department

Contemporary Art

Artist

Ellsworth Kelly

Title

Red Yellow Blue White and Black II

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1953

Medium

Oil on canvas; 7 joined panels

Dimensions

99.1 × 350.2 cm (39 × 138 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of the Anstiss and Ronald Krueck Collection

Reference Number

2001.157

Copyright

© Ellsworth Kelly Foundation

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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