Black/White 1956

Guido Molinari made this stark black and white piece with paint, and what grabs me first is how the hard-edged vertical stripes suggest a process of careful masking. But look closer, and you'll see the subtle imperfections, the slight variations in tone, the uneven edges – like around the right-hand side of the left black bar. It's in these details that the human hand sneaks in, adding a layer of complexity to the otherwise minimalist composition. The physicality of the paint, how it sits on the surface, gives the work a presence that a digital reproduction can't quite capture. It reminds me of some of Carmen Herrera's geometric abstractions, where simplicity becomes a vehicle for exploring the nuances of perception. Ultimately, what I appreciate about this piece is its ambiguity; it's bold and assertive, yet also invites contemplation and rewards close looking.