American Paintings from the Met
Date
1966
Credits
Format
- Book Cover 216
Type of Work
- Finished work 5480
Clients
- LACMA 4
Techniques
Links
"Lou Danziger’s cover for American Paintings from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1966) is a stellar example of the fused metaphor approach. A black and white paintbrush is combined with an American flag to pair the two ideas. By itself, this is a valid concept. But, Danziger enhances the idea with the execution. The black and white brush is on a white background. We are not distracted by unnecessary questions: what is that surface, or odd color of the handle? The typography allows the idea to take “center stage.” The flag, surprisingly, is not a flag. There are no stars and only seven stripes. In fact, the shape is simply a loosely painted combination of colors. We are challenged to define this rough sketch as the flag, again, creating more intimacy with the cover. The form of the flag made with brush strokes relates to the subject matter." (Sean Adams on designobserver.com)
