Red and Orange — Fine Art

The title Red and Orange - 1968 tells you the main colours first. Kenzo Okada built his abstract canvases with thin washes and quick brushwork so the layers sit on top of one another. The fine art print keeps those reds and oranges flat and steady on the page.

A white frame gives the picture a clean edge on the wall. The pale frame edge stays quiet beside the warm colour areas, so the eye reads the painting shape before it reaches the frame. The frame finish is plain and holds the image in place.

In a dining room under a hanging lamp the darker orange band shows first. Step nearer to the hallway wall and the thin red lines become clear. The picture reads as a few broad colour areas before you notice the lighter tints behind them.