Artwork
Libertate pe verticală
Libertate pe verticală is an unspecified painting by the Art Informel artist Horia Bernea. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Art of Romania.
About this work
Overview
Libertate pe verticală, executed by Romanian painter Horia Bernea in 1968, presents an abstract composition dominated by a luminous yellow field. Within this backdrop, a chaotic network of black lines interweaves with patches of red, orange and blue, creating a dense, ambiguous central zone that resists straightforward identification.
Subject & Meaning
The central tangle of forms suggests multiple possible readings, perhaps a fragmented human visage, an abstracted bird, or simply an expression of kinetic energy. The title, invoking “freedom,” invites viewers to consider liberation as a vertical, upward thrust amid the surrounding turbulence.
Technique & Style
Bernea applied paint in thick, uneven strokes, allowing the medium to retain a raw, almost tactile quality. Areas of the surface appear scratched or scraped, while other sections display flat, saturated color blocks. The overall effect is non‑representational, emphasizing gesture and the physicality of the paint itself.
History & Provenance
Created during a period of intense artistic experimentation in late‑1960s Romania, Libertate pe verticală reflects the broader shift toward abstraction among Eastern European artists. The work remains documented as part of Bernea’s early oeuvre, though specific exhibition histories or ownership details have not been widely published.
Artist & collection
Artist
This Romanian printmaker’s stark, mid-century works mix bold shapes and text in black-and-white, blending graphic punch with quiet mood.
