A triangle within three rectangles 1977

Robert Mangold made "A triangle within three rectangles" in an unknown year, using paint on canvas. It's really interesting how Mangold has divided the surface into these three distinct rectangles, but then complicates things by drawing a simple triangle across them. The red feels so flat, like a wall. I wonder if that triangle is trying to escape or break free somehow? Up close, the surface of the painting has this really subtle texture, like the weave of the canvas is still visible underneath. And the red isn't just one color, it shifts slightly in different areas. It’s as if the painting is breathing, in a quiet, geometric way. That single triangle line runs through the whole thing, tying the three pieces together, even though they are separate. Mangold reminds me of Agnes Martin, in that he's reducing painting down to its bare bones. It’s like they're both asking, "What is the least amount of stuff I need to make a painting?" Which leaves us free to see a whole lot more.