Untitled (35-14) - Balcomb Greene

A 1935 collage by Balcomb Greene, featuring architectural blueprints and abstract paper shapes in a balanced, non-representational composition.

Balcomb Greene was a significant figure in the development of American abstraction. This work, dating from 1935, demonstrates his early engagement with geometric forms and the materiality of collage. By incorporating architectural blueprints into his composition, Greene creates a dialogue between rigid, functional design and the fluidity of abstract arrangement. The composition relies on the juxtaposition of disparate paper elements. The inclusion of technical drawings, with visible text such as 'TO HALL' and 'TO GARAGE', provides a grounding in reality that contrasts with the non-representational black and neutral shapes. Greene manipulates these found materials to construct a balanced, albeit fragmented, visual space. The work avoids traditional perspective, favouring a flat, layered approach that emphasises the physical surface of the paper. During this period, Greene was deeply involved with the American Abstract Artists group, an organisation dedicated to promoting non-objective art in the United States. His work from the mid-1930s reflects a broader interest in European modernism, particularly the influence of synthetic cubism and the use of collage as a means to deconstruct and reassemble visual information. The muted colour palette, dominated by shades of blue, tan, and black, maintains a sense of cohesion despite the varied origins of the materials. This piece offers a glimpse into the experimental phase of Greene's career, where he moved away from representational subjects to explore the inherent qualities of shape, line, and texture. It is a study in the tension between order and chaos, achieved through the deliberate placement of paper fragments.