MANUEL PARDONO
The Latin title Vir Heroicus Sublimis can be translated Man, heroic and sublime. Newman once asked, If we are living in a time without a legend that can be called sublime, how can we be creating sublime art? This painting, his largest at the time, is one response. Newman wanted the viewer to stand close to this work, and he likened the experience to a human encounter: Its no different, really, from meeting another person. One has a reaction to the person physically. Also, theres a metaphysical thing, and if a meeting of people is meaningful, it affects both their lives.