Untitled 1961

Michael Goldberg made this Untitled print sometime in his career using what looks like screen printing techniques. It’s a jumble of marks and text, but that's what makes it so interesting. The surface is relatively flat, as you’d expect with screen printing, but the layering of colors – black, gray, blue, and red – gives it depth. The marks are bold, almost aggressive, with thick strokes and drips that create a sense of movement, maybe even urgency. Note the vertical lines at the bottom, they remind me of bars, or maybe the strings of a musical instrument. These anchor the composition and provide a contrast to the more fluid marks above. Goldberg reminds me of Joan Mitchell; both artists had the same kind of energy in their work. You get the feeling that they just went for it, trusting their instincts and letting the materials guide them. Ultimately, art is about taking risks and embracing uncertainty.