Mark Tobey's City Paintings : Meditations on an Age of Transition

Tobey's city painting have traditionally been interpreted as joyous evocations of the energy inherent in the modern urban scene. This article looks at the evolutionary character of Tobey's city paintings during the decades of the 1930s, 40s and 50s, pointing out that they may instead be understood as modern reinterpretations of the traditional themes of the apocalypse, hell, the day of judgement, and the new Jerusalem. This interpretation finds its roots in the study of the relationship of Tobey's city paintings to the artist's long-standing beliefs in the Baha'i Faith and to specific Baha'i teachings concerning the Book of Revelation and the coming of a new age. The article also considers the overall influence of the Baha'i Faith on Tobey's work, and draws parallels between major themes in the city paintings and important Baha'i scriptures, including The Seven Valleys. In this connection, Tobey's city paintings can be understood as symbolic of the various stages in humanity's spiritual quest, ending with the theme of the resolution of opposites and a celebration of the essential unity of all creation.