Existing comment:
Marsden Hartley
Berlin Abstraction, 1914-1915
Berlin Abstraction is among more than a dozen deeply symbolic and personal paintings that pay tribute to Hartley's companion Karl von Freyburg, a young German lieutenant killed in action during World War I. The mosaic-like arrangement of symbols and signs evokes the military pageantry that so impressed Hartley in Berlin. Sleeve cuffs and epaulets are joined by more specific motifs, such as the red "4," which refers to Freyburg's regiment; the checkerboard pattern, symbolizing his love of chess; and the blue and white diamond pattern of the Bavarian flag. |