Image Essay #6

I chose this piece by Frank Stella, entitled Hyena Stomp, because I believe it is a good example of a Gestalt image. More specifically, the image has lots of movement, which leads to continuity. There is a definite focal point at the center of the image which helps to create drama. Also, there seems to be a sense of repetition along the borders, which leads to the broken pattern in the middle (also the focal point). Frank Stella has lots of movement in his work, which help to create a good composition. Most of Stella's work contains curved or straight lines with lots of different colors. It is interesting that Frank Stella is as respected as he is; he once said that a picture is "a flat surface with paint on it - nothing more."

In his work there is nearly always repetition with the repeated curves, and the movement is simply astounding. The image above I spent a good while staring at. Amazing, as it only consists of different colored lines. This further illustrates the point, however, that if a composition has unity and variety it will be good. There are both in Stella's piece, which is why it is a good representation of Gestalt imagery.