Here, a vertically oriented canvas with diffused hues of blue and violet becomes a site for both personal and collective contemplation. This work is part of Sam Gilliam’s “Martin Luther King Jr.” series (1968–72), inaugurated in the wake of the political turmoil and public outcry after the civil rights leader’s assassination on April 4, 1968. To expressive effect, Gilliam poured layers of acrylic paint diluted with solvent onto raw cotton canvas, folding the canvas to migrate and subtly manipulate color. The series suggests that abstraction has the affective power to speak to the very real consequences of King’s death.