Window Study #3 1985

Brice Marden made this "Window Study #3" using oil paint and wax on paper. The layering of colors and wax creates a textured surface, almost like weathered stone. Marden's process involves a careful build-up of materials. He applies thin layers of paint mixed with wax, scraping and manipulating the surface to reveal underlying colors. This technique gives the work a sense of depth, but also reflects the work involved in its making. The wax adds luminosity to the oil paint, enriching each color with a tactile density. The composition, divided into horizontal bands of primary colors, has a grid-like appearance. The grid nods to industrial production while the handmade textures of the materials remind us that it is a human endeavor. Marden’s engagement with the materiality of paint challenges the divide between fine art and labor-intensive craft, inviting us to appreciate the ways in which a painting can capture both thought and action.