Untitled
1959
oil
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
1959
oil
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
This painting is a wild mix of shapes and lines on a light background. You see lots of black outlines—some look like people, others like buildings or objects—but nothing is clear or realistic. The colors are mostly browns, blues, and whites, with some areas thickly painted and others fading. The lines twist and overlap, almost like a busy city map or a dream you can’t quite remember. The artist used paint in heavy, uneven strokes, making some parts stand out more than others. If you like this style, check out impasto next—it’s the technique of slapping thick paint onto canvas.