Constellation - Allan D'Arcangelo

A 1971 screenprint by Allan D'Arcangelo featuring a geometric composition of interlocking circular and block forms in high-contrast black and white.

Allan D'Arcangelo, a figure associated with the American Pop Art movement, produced this screenprint in 1971. The work demonstrates his interest in geometric precision and the interplay between two-dimensional surfaces and three-dimensional illusion. The composition features a large, black circular form intersected by vertical, block-like structures that suggest architectural or mechanical components. The artist employs a restricted palette of black, white, and off-white to create high contrast. This choice removes extraneous detail, allowing the viewer to focus on the structural arrangement of the shapes. The vertical elements exhibit a repeating chevron pattern, which creates a sense of rhythm and depth against the flat, circular background. D'Arcangelo often utilised such motifs to explore the tension between industrial aesthetics and pure geometric form. Throughout his career, D'Arcangelo moved away from the painterly gestures of earlier decades, favouring the clean lines and flat colour fields associated with hard-edge painting and screenprinting. This print reflects that technical approach, where the clarity of the image is paramount. The work does not rely on narrative or representational subject matter, but rather invites an analysis of spatial relationships and the visual weight of the forms. The balance between the circular curve and the rigid, angular blocks creates a stable yet dynamic visual field. This piece is representative of the artist's later output, where he refined his visual language to focus on the essential properties of shape and tone.