Forêt convulsive 1974

Theo Gerber made this painting titled 'Forêt convulsive' in 1974. Just look at the layered washes of gray, black, and a touch of muted color! I imagine Gerber in his studio, lost in the process, as he built up these shadowy, ambiguous forms. The paint is applied in thin layers, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere, like mist hanging in a forest. That little rainbow arc, emerging from a dark shape, is so odd. What does it mean? Maybe he was thinking of a storm passing, light breaking through the darkness. There's a restless energy in the composition, a sense of things shifting and transforming. I wonder if he knew the Surrealists? Ultimately, this painting reminds me that art is a conversation across time, each artist responding to and building upon what came before. It is a way to reflect on the world through the lens of paint and gesture, embracing uncertainty.