Accession Number
1971/1.191

Title
Frontal

Artist(s)
Vincent Longo

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1970

Medium & Support
etching on Arches paper

Dimensions
30 in x 22 1/4 in (76.2 cm x 56.5 cm);32 3/16 in x 26 1/8 in (81.76 cm x 66.36 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of The Drawing and Print Club, Founders Society Detroit Institute of Arts

Subject matter
One of the foundational elements of Longo's work, the formal qualities of the grid, was influenced by earlier modernists like Mondrian. This etching dates from the period when Longo began investigating "Eastern" art and philosophy. He was particularly interested in exploring the fundamental ideas of meditative practice, of yantra and mandalas. As Longo explained, "I think of these all-over patterns as a kind of space itself, with its unseen dimensions, skeletal matter, configured energy and pure abstraction—spaces between, arbitrarily found points, flatness hinting at depth." Inspired by Taoist beliefs, Longo formed his grids from the center outwards. He uses color and tone, such as the range of greys in this work, to signify light, warmth and radiance. Overall, Longo strove to achieve formal balance, beauty, and a sense of being in his work.

Physical Description
This etching has a grey and white all-over grid pattern. Thicker, light grey lines make up the main grid and individual squares from this pattern are broken into smaller quadrants of small white rectangles. The print uses lighter tones towards the center and outer corners of the work. Darker grey tones are used between these areas. The work is printed on ivory wove paper. The print is signed, dated, and numbered (l.r.) "Longo 70 4/45" in pencil. 

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary

Rights
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Keywords
Taoism
abstraction
allover patterns
grids (layout features)
modern and contemporary art