Untitled

Untitled

Karl Zerbe

1952

tempera

From the collection of Museum of Modern Art

About this work

This painting looks like a city made of blocks and colors. Buildings are stacked unevenly, with bold reds, blues, and greens. Some shapes are sharp, others wobbly, like they’re leaning against each other. A dark figure stands near the center, half-hidden by the chaos. The whole scene feels busy and a little off-kilter. The artist used thick, flat colors and rough edges. It’s not a smooth cityscape—more like a puzzle where the pieces don’t quite fit. The tempera paint gives it a matte, almost textured look. Next, check out tempera to see how this medium works.

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