Pale Yellow, Pink and Brown 1971

John Hoyland's, Pale Yellow, Pink and Brown is a masterclass in how to be soft, bold, and interesting all at the same time. It's all about color, right? These hues have landed on the surface like a kiss or a whisper—the pinks and yellows are just so gentle. I can imagine Hoyland in his studio, experimenting and layering until he finds the right balance. He's part of a whole generation of painters thinking along similar lines, like Helen Frankenthaler, for instance. And then, that central brown rectangle. It anchors everything. What I love about this kind of painting is the conversation between accident and intention; you can see the splatters and drips of paint, but the painting doesn't feel random. It feels like a record of a painter thinking, feeling, and working through ideas. That's why painting is so good!