1 of 10

Will Barnet
Dialogue in Green
1969

Name: Dialogue in Green
Brand: Will Barnet

$225,000List Price

About the Item

In "Dialogue in Green," Will Barnet masterfully employs precision and simplification of forms, showcasing his matured artistic style at the peak of his creative wisdom by 1969. This painting reflects his unique approach to merging abstraction with figuration, a hallmark of Barnet’s oeuvre. Barnet’s precise use of line and form strips away unnecessary detail, leaving behind the essence of his subjects. In the painting, the figures of Ona and the cat are stylized with bold outlines and minimalistic shapes, accentuating their presence and emotional undertones without overwhelming complexity. This technique allows viewers to focus on the emotional and symbolic content of the work. The composition is carefully balanced, guiding the viewer's eye through the painting in a harmonious manner. Barnet arranges elements within the piece to create a sense of calm and introspection. The interplay of geometric patterns, such as the simple yet elegant lines of the patterned rug, complements the organic forms, reinforcing the theme of interior dialogue and personal reflection. By reaching a synthesis between abstraction and figuration, Barnet crafts a narrative that is both personal and universal. His abstraction provides space for interpretation and emotional resonance, while the figuration keeps the work grounded in relatable human experience. Through these artistic choices, Barnet achieves a timeless quality in "Dialogue in Green," encapsulating a moment of quiet contemplation. The painting demonstrates how, by 1969, Barnet had honed his skills to express profound emotional depth with economy and elegance, thus solidifying his position in the realm of modern art. PROVENANCE: Connecticut Fine Arts, Inc., Westport, Connecticut (with Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York); Private collection, Glen Rock, New Jersey, acquired from the above, 1975; EXHIBITED: Neuberger Museum, State University of New York, Purchase College, Purchase, New York, and elsewhere, "Will Barnet: Twenty Years of Painting and Drawing," November 4, 1979-January 13, 1980. "You have to believe in what you're doing. In the long run, you have to feel that what you're doing, regardless of the trends, will have a lasting quality. Someday someone may pick it up and recognize that it was superior." -Will Barnet A poem written by Brazilian poet Salgado Maranhão (Caxias Brazil 1953 -) Beneath the Gaze of Will Barnet (Dialogue in Green, 1969) They are knit of the same flesh of absence, even when—present— they flow together. For they are dressed in the skins of the night. (an atavistic heritage where guilt has no face and where one plays chess with nothingness) Ah, if I could only lash their fears, underscore their inmost cells exactly where nothing ever will be said. but I am broken into many, subtracted from the absence of myself. The picture represents Will Barnet daughter Ona at age 14/15 with the family cat Ona's back turned towards the viewer can symbolize the introspective journey many adolescents experience as they navigate the complexities of physical and emotional changes. This posture suggests her internal struggle and quest for self-identity and understanding, distancing herself momentarily from the external world. The subtle gesture of her right hand towards the cat highlights a point of communication and connection within the safe confines of her immediate environment. The cat's gaze, directed at the viewer, serves as a guardian or mediator, signaling that Ona's personal space and growth must be respected. The overall silence depicted in the painting creates a metaphorical shield, offering Ona a sanctuary for her internal dialogue—a place away from the external noise where she can explore her thoughts and emotions. The title "Dialogue in Green" encapsulates this communication, not through words, but through a contemplative interaction between Ona and her environment. This interpretation paints a picture of adolescence as a quiet, introspective time when individuals seek to understand themselves and the world around them, amidst the protective silence that allows for personal growth and understanding.

Creator:
Will Barnet (1911, American)
Creation Year:
1969
Dimensions:
Height: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)Width: 57.5 in (146.05 cm)
More Editions & Sizes:
UniquePrice: $225,000
Medium:
Oil
Movement & Style:
American Modern
Period:
1960-1969
Framing:
Framing Options Available
Condition:
Unlined canvas. Under UV exam, there does not appear to be inpaint. Framed Dimensions 43 X 67.5 Inches.
Gallery Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2836215720452

Will BarnetMeditation and Minou, 1980

$2,400

H 22 in W 28 in

Meditation and Minou

By Will Barnet

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Meditation and Minou Color lithograph and serigraph, 1980 Signed and numbered in pencil (see photo) Printer Styria Studio, Inc. New York Publisher: Harry Abrams...

Category

1980s American Realist Figurative Prints

Materials

Screen

Will BarnetThe Caller, 1974

Price Upon Request

H 91.5 in W 31.5 in

The Caller

By Will Barnet

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Will Barnet, American (1911 - 2012) Title: The Caller Year: 1974 - 1976 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed and dated l.r. Size: 91.5 x 31.5 in. (232....

Category

1970s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Will Barnet"MEDITATION AND MINOU"

$1,750

H 41 in W 35 in

"MEDITATION AND MINOU"

By Will Barnet

Located in Warren, NJ

Will Barnet "MEDITATION AND MINOU" serigraph signed numbered. In good condition measures 41x35

Category

20th Century Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph

Will BarnetReflections, 1971

$2,400Sale Price|20% Off

H 30 in W 22 in

Reflections

By Will Barnet

Located in Buffalo, NY

“Reflection, 1971” Medium: Color serigraph Signed and titled Ed: 121/225 Sheet: 30 x 23 in. Image: 22 x 14.5 in. Condition: Excellent

Category

1970s American Realist Figurative Prints

Materials

Archival Paper, Lithograph

Will BarnetInterlude, Screenprint by Will Barnet, 1982

$2,850

H 25.5 in W 42.5 in

Interlude, Screenprint by Will Barnet

By Will Barnet

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Will Barnet, American (1911 - 2012) Title: Interlude Year: 1982 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: AP Image Size: 20 x 38 inches Size: 25.5 x 42.5 in. (64.77 x 107.95 cm) Fig 179, pg 70 from Will Barnet: Prints 1931-2005, published by John Szoke...

Category

1980s American Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Screen

Will BarnetWOMAN, CAT, AND STRING, 1980

$4,800

H 33 in W 33 in D 2 in

WOMAN, CAT, AND STRING

By Will Barnet

Located in Portland, ME

Barnet, Will (American 1911-20120. WOMAN, CAT, AND STRING. Etching and aquatint with handcoloring on wove paper, 1980. Signed and dated in pencil. 20 x 19 3/4 inches (plate), 29 7/8 ...

Category

1980s Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Will BarnetTHE FINE FRIENDS, 1952

$2,500

H 30 in W 24 in

THE FINE FRIENDS

By Will Barnet

Located in Portland, ME

Barnet, Will. THE FINE FRIENDS. Szoke 116, Cole 113, Johnson 96. Lithograph in colors, 1952. Edition of 25. Titled and signed in pencil. Printed on Arches paper by Will Barnet and Robert Blackburn...

Category

1950s Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Will BarnetAWARENESS OF DAWN

$4,800

H 22 in W 30 in

AWARENESS OF DAWN

By Will Barnet

Located in Portland, ME

Barnet, Will. AWARENESS OF DAWN. Szoke 101, Cole 99, Johnson 85. Color Lithograph, 1951. Edition of 18, titled and signed in pencil. Printed on Arches paper by Barnet and Robert Blackburn. Estate of the artist via Swann Galleries...

Category

1950s Abstract Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Will BarnetCirce 2, 1979

$1,800

H 23.25 in W 24 in D 0.01 in

Circe 2

By Will Barnet

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork titled "Circe" 1979 is an original colors serigraph on Wove paper by noted American artist Will Barnet, 1911-2012. It is hand signed, titled and numbered 43/100 in pencil by the artist. The image size (circle) is 18 x 18 inches, sheet size is 23.25 x 24 inches. It is in excellent condition, has never been framed. About the artist: Born in 1911 in Beverly, Massachusetts, Barnet knew by the age of ten that he wanted to be an artist. As a student, he studied with Philip Leslie Hale at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and viewed first-hand John Singer Sargent at work on the murals of the Boston Public Library. In 1930, Barnet studied at the Art Students League of New York, with Stuart Davis and Charles Locke, beginning his long association with the school. Here he concentrated on painting as well as printmaking, and, in 1936, he became the official printer for the Art Students League. There, he later instructed students in the graphic arts at the school and taught alongside the likes of Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Robert Beverly Hale and Richard Pousette-Dart. Barnet influenced a generation of artists, including James Rosenquist, Knox Martin, Emil Milan, Paul Jenkins, Ethel Fisher...

Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Figurative Prints

Materials

Screen

Will BarnetWill Barnet - The Book, Silkscreen, S/N from USA Bicentennial Print portfolio, 1975

$5,500

H 35 in W 26 in D 2 in

Will Barnet - The Book, Silkscreen, S/N from USA Bicentennial Print portfolio

By Will Barnet

Located in New York, NY

Will Barnet The Book, from the 1776 USA 1976: Bicentennial Prints portfolio Silkscreen in colors on Arches paper Pencil signed, titled and numbered 65/75 on the front Printed by Fine...

Category