Untitled (N.Y. World's Fair) 1939

Ad Reinhardt made this untitled painting on an unknown date, using paint to explore a geometry that's both rigid and playful. I love how Reinhardt commits to these flat planes of color; each shape feels carefully considered, almost architectural in its construction. Look at the lilac background, it's like the quiet hum that lets the other, louder colors sing. The texture is smooth, almost cool to the touch, inviting us to lose ourselves in the puzzle of shapes and their relationships. Take that dark brown shape, it roots the composition, but also pushes against the lighter colors, creating a tension that keeps the eye moving. Reinhardt reminds me a bit of Mondrian, stripping down the world to basic forms and colors, but with a wink. There is no right or wrong way to see it, just an invitation to wander and wonder.