20.5.74 1974

John Hoyland made '20.5.74' with oil on canvas, and what strikes me is the sense of play he brings to color and form. It’s not just about what colors are there, but how they’re put down and how they react to each other. The surface has this great texture, a real skin of paint. In the middle there’s this field of warm red-brown that feels grounded, solid, and all around it is a frame made up of pinks, purples, greens. The frame feels like an addition, a second thought. Look closely at the upper right corner. You can almost see Hoyland working it out, adjusting, adding layers. It's like he’s having a conversation with the painting, each mark a response to what’s already there. This piece reminds me a bit of some of Rothko’s work, but with a twist, with more of a sense of joyful exploration. For me, this is not a painting that tells you what to think; it invites you to feel, to look, and to keep looking.