Red Devil

Identification of Red Devil by Gene Davis

Red Devil is a painting by the American artist Gene Davis. This work was executed in 1959. It represents a specific stage in the artist's development, marking the transition into a mature style characterized by vertical stripes in discrete hues. The composition utilizes an edge-to-edge arrangement of color.

The artwork is currently held within the permanent collection of The Phillips Collection. This institution is recognized as America’s First Museum of Modern Art. The piece remains part of this specific collection, situated within the holdings of the museum.

Composition and Visual Characteristics

The composition is defined by a series of vertical stripes. These bands of color are arranged in an edge-to-edge format, covering the entirety of the surface. Each stripe consists of discrete hues that sit adjacent to one another. This specific arrangement of verticality creates a rhythmic quality across the plane. The repetition of these colored bands establishes a structured visual cadence.

This work represents the artist's mature style. The vertical stripes are the primary organizational element, moving the eye through a sequence of chromatic shifts. The arrangement avoids a central focal point, instead utilizing the full extent of the canvas to maintain the pattern. The interaction between the individual hues and the vertical orientation produces a sense of optical movement.

Technique and Artistic Materials

The execution of this work relies on the application of acrylic paint through a specific process of staining and soaking. Davis utilized unprimed and unsized canvas as the primary support. By applying the liquid medium directly to this untreated surface, the pigment penetrates the fibers of the fabric rather than sitting on top of a prepared layer. This method allows the color to integrate into the texture of the weave itself.

This particular technical approach was influenced by the methods used by Kenneth Noland and Morris Louis. The practice of soaking the canvas with acrylic was a technique shared with the New York art scene during this period. The resulting application produces a flat, luminous quality where the color appears to be part of the material structure. The interaction between the liquid acrylic and the raw canvas creates a specific visual depth through the absorption of the pigment.