Four Identical Large Parts III 1959

Max Bill, bless his soul, made this crisp geometric painting, *Four Identical Large Parts III*, and it’s all about the magic of color relationships and simple forms. There’s a real pleasure in how the blues, greens, and purples sit next to each other, making each other sing. When I look at the surface, it feels so smooth and controlled. It’s hard to see the hand in it, but that’s part of the point. The colors are laid down in these flat, almost graphic shapes, and the way they butt up against each other creates this quiet tension. Take that vertical green rectangle: it’s like a spine holding the whole composition together, and the way it interacts with the blues on either side creates a subtle vibration. Bill's painting reminds me of what Mondrian was doing, but maybe with a bit more chill. Both were trying to find a universal language in abstraction. For me, the real kick is how Bill takes these simple elements and makes something that feels both rational and totally alive.