Leeward Traffic 1966

Robert Huot made this painting, Leeward Traffic, with simple tones—blacks and off-whites—probably with acrylic paint, and maybe in the nineteen-sixties. I can imagine Huot layering black paint, one square at a time, letting the underlayers peek through. The white blocks are clearly defined with simple brushstrokes. I'd imagine that Huot was influenced by the minimalist painters of his time, like Agnes Martin. But maybe he was thinking about Mondrian, or even Rothko. What I like about this painting is its simplicity. The painting becomes a structure of color and composition, one that is clearly planned and executed. It gives off an intentional vibe and a focus on the formal qualities of painting. All painters work in an ongoing conversation, you know, inspiring one another, and each painter has to work out their own logic on canvas.