Fontana Mix (Orange/Tan) 1981

This work by John Cage features lines and patterns over a muted, orange tan background. I see Cage mapping out a system, like he's trying to catch thoughts as they dart around. He's got these meandering lines, some solid, some dashed, like little detours or side notes. There's a grid too – maybe that’s his attempt to organize the chaos? I wonder if he’s thinking about musical composition, translating sounds into shapes and lines on paper? It’s fascinating to think about what’s going on in Cage’s head as he makes this. Is he trying to control the composition or let it all happen by chance, like his music? It reminds me of Sol LeWitt’s wall drawings, but Cage's version feels warmer, more human. Artists, whether in music or painting, are always riffing off each other, trading ideas across time. This piece really highlights how art embraces ambiguity and uncertainty.