Micro-Painting 1968

Gene Davis created this Micro-Painting during a period when the art world was deeply engaged with questions of scale and perception. Davis, known for his large, vibrant stripe paintings, challenges our expectations with this diminutive piece. Here, a small rectangle, dominated by a field of red, is interrupted by a singular gold circle. The artwork encourages us to reconsider our relationship to art and to question traditional notions of what constitutes a significant artistic statement. As Davis once said: “The only thing that matters is that you feel something.” The intimate scale invites viewers to come close, fostering a sense of personal connection and prompting a reconsideration of the vastness of abstraction within the confines of our own subjective experience. This work emphasizes the potential for profound artistic expression, regardless of size.