Black-Green from the Series of Ten Lithographs 1970

Ellsworth Kelly made this print, Black-Green, as part of a series of lithographs, using flat shapes and bold color. I think he was interested in how basic forms can create a powerful experience; it's about paring things back to their essence. The simple juxtaposition of black and green is so striking, the green vibrates against the black. There's a sharpness to the way the colors meet. It's funny, because it's just two blocks of color, but they create this push and pull on the surface. Kelly was a master of color, and he knew exactly how to make these simple forms sing. It's almost like he's inviting us to see the world in its most distilled form. Like Frank Stella, Kelly understood how to reduce an image to its most essential components and still communicate a lot of emotion. These artists show us that art is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time, and that there’s always room for ambiguity.