Works in the Egg Series are largely abstract in treatment, preserving only in a general way the primary image of the egg. For example, in The Joining, McFarlane has situated four egg shapes on a picture plane that is divided into three stacked rectangles or windows. In the lowest window, two eggs appear. One is simply outlined against the ground in virtually the same color, and near to it is a golden egg partially encircled by a blue-green arc. In the middle window no egg appears although a beautiful green shadow from a pair of eggs above falls along its upper border. The shadow, like a tuft of grass, cradles a yellow and gold egg that seems as rich as jewelry. Immediately behind it rises a white egg defined by a border transitioning from orange through gold to a ruby color. The palette so elegantly employed in depicting the two eggs joined together is deftly used to over paint the pinkish background thereby given a subtle visual unity to the painting. The suggestion of ‘joining’ provided by its title is helpful, but hardly necessary to enjoy the work.
– Barry Gaither Director of the Museum of the National Center of African Artists, Boston
Multiple Eggs 多重蛋, 64x54inches, Oil on linen, Private Collection 私人收藏
