Who's Afraid
painting of a man enjoying a painting by Barnett Newman
G. Boersma
acrylic on panel
30 x 30 cm | 12 x 12 in
2026
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This work of 30 x 30 cm shows a man engaging with Barnett Newman’s seminal 1966 canvas Who's Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue 1. By letting the expressive power of a colossal red field confront and envelop the spectator, Newman's painting acts as a vehicle for a profound emotional and spiritual experience.
For me, that title takes on a deeper meaning today; it feels incredibly relevant because I see a lot of people being afraid of something nowadays. Symbolically, the man in my painting is confronting his own fears by standing right in front of that overwhelming red space. He is embracing the tiger.
All the best, Gerard
