11:39 Oct 31 

Lisa wrote: "Could this refer rather to a mode of viewing? That it needs to be seen directly from the front?"

This seems very unlikely to me. Paintings are usually seen from the front. "Don't look at it from off-centre" would have to be much more underlined - whereas this phrase has more obvious meanings in French.

And a specific characteristic of monochromes is that different angles of vision produce different visual effects.

I think Linda Sansome is on the right path.

11:30 Oct 31 

could you show the rest of the text (before + after the sentence) ?

11:21 Oct 31 

My guess is also that its impact is most powerful when seen face-on, directly from the front.

10:55 Oct 31 

Yes David.

10:29 Oct 31 

Hi
Could this refer rather to a mode of viewing? That it needs to be seen directly from the front? Are we talking flat canvas or is there a 3 dimensional aspect to the work? just thoughts...

10:09 Oct 31 

OK, black monochromes without figuration?

asserts itself directly ??

09:56 Oct 31 

Hi David, it's about a painter who paints only black

09:55 Oct 31 

My first impression is that this is talking about the style - frontal - staged, artificial perspective if any, presentational.