Micro-Painting 1968

It's a head-scratcher, isn't it? A micro-painting by Gene Davis, painted with… well, who knows? I can imagine him, squinting, holding his breath, trying to get that perfect circle of pink onto the pale green surface. I can relate. Sometimes the smallest gestures are the hardest to nail. It reminds me of the kind of focus you need when you’re trying to thread a needle, except instead of thread, it's paint. It seems like he’s playing with scale, daring himself to see how much feeling he can pack into this tiny space. Maybe it's about finding the monumental in the minuscule, turning a simple shape into a whole universe of color and form. And there's something kind of cheeky about it too! Like he's saying, "Hey, painting doesn't have to be big and bombastic. It can be quiet, intimate, and still pack a punch.” I like that.