Venetian Glow 1959

Peter Busa made this painting, Venetian Glow, with layered brushstrokes of pink, red, purple and black paint. Can you imagine him standing in front of the canvas, brush in hand, and the image coming into being, through trial, error, and intuition? I really sympathize with the artist here, imagining him thinking: where do I go next? What happens if I put the red next to the black? Is this working? And then, a gesture, like that thick stroke of pink. What does it say? What does it mean? I wonder if he feels that he is in control, or does the painting have a will of its own? The physicality of the medium is so important. Just look at how the paint is applied, thick in some places, thin in others. The texture, color, and surface all contribute to the emotional and intellectual resonance of the work, communicating feeling, intention, and meaning. Busa was part of the New York School, and you can see the influence of other painters like Arshile Gorky and Willem de Kooning here. Artists are always in conversation, inspiring one another's creativity across time, embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.