Untitled 1932

This untitled painting was made by Stephen Mopope in 1932, and it looks like it's made with gouache on paper. Mopope's approach to mark making is so interesting here, he's got this flat, almost graphic style, but then you see the tiny details, like the brushstrokes in the hair, and you realize how much care went into each little part. The material aspect of the work is very considered: the matte surface of the gouache, the way he's layered the colors to create depth in the blue robe...It gives the painting a kind of quiet intensity. There's a small detail in the pattern around the neck, where a triangle seems to almost hover, creating a gentle tension in the composition. It’s so simple, but it really makes the whole piece sing. It makes me think of Agnes Martin, with her delicate lines and subtle colors, both artists sharing an understanding of the power of quiet and careful looking. Art's about the conversation, right? It's about how we see, and how we keep seeing.