Exposed Painting Ivory Black 2007

Callum Innes made this painting, "Exposed Painting Ivory Black," using what seems like a simple concept: a clean geometric composition based on a monochromatic palette. But up close, the magic begins. The paint isn't applied in flat, opaque blocks but instead washed and wiped away, revealing traces of what was there before. This technique gives the painting an ethereal, almost ghostly quality. Look closely, and you'll notice that the crispness of the black and ivory fields isn't so crisp after all; there's a constant push and pull between control and chance. The way Innes handles the paint reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, who also knew how to make a simple grid sing with emotion. Ultimately, this painting invites us to slow down, to look, and to appreciate the beauty that can emerge from simplicity and restraint.