How did Wallace Berman create rhythm in Untitled?

• A. Repetition of hands and radio shape
• B. Large negative space
• C. Gradual color gradient
• D. Contrasting textures in a grid

Answer: (A)

Rhythm in a work like this comes from repeating a motif so the eye moves in a deliberate pattern. Here, the repeated forms of hands and a radio shape create a visual beat. Each repetition acts like a drum hit, sending the viewer’s gaze from one instance to the next and back again, which gives the composition its tempo and unity. The hands bring gesture and energy, while the radio shape provides a familiar anchor for that repetition, reinforcing the cadence throughout the piece. Large negative space would emphasize isolation rather than a moving pattern, a gradual color shift would read as progression rather than repetition, and a grid of textures would produce structure but not the same rhythmic pull this repeating motif achieves.