Arch 1971

Howard Hodgkin's "Arch" seems to have come into being through intuition, emerging through trial and error. Just imagine him there, brush in hand, maybe dancing a little, trying things out, getting a feel for the space and colours! I wonder if Hodgkin was thinking about how we move through spaces when he made this? How rooms connect, or how one feeling leads to another. The dark blue edging really pops, outlining these shapes, making them feel distinct yet connected. The red, yellow, and green aren't just colours; they're moods. That smeary quality to the green gives it texture and depth, as if he's layered on feeling and memory. Hodgkin always had a knack for making something so simple feel so full of life. It's like he’s whispering secrets about colour, space, and emotion. It reminds me of other artists who play with form and colour, like Matisse, or even Rothko, but Hodgkin has his own totally unique vibe. Painting is like being in a band, everyone's riffing off each other.