Composition 1989

Alexandre Istrati made this painting, Composition, with oil on canvas. The background is full of these fiery reds and oranges and cool blues, but then the artist throws these strong teal and ochre lines on top. It's all about the push and pull of color. Up close, you can see the real physicality of the paint, like Istrati was wrestling with the canvas, the brushstrokes like slashes. Look at that one teal line, how it confidently cuts across the chaos. It’s so bold. Istrati reminds me of Joan Mitchell, both throwing themselves into the act of painting, letting the energy of the moment guide them. It’s not about perfection, it’s about feeling, about letting the painting breathe and evolve. Isn’t that what art is all about?