High Society 1960

Bram Bogart made *High Society* using trowels of grey paint. I can just imagine him working on this. It's not just about applying paint, it's about building a world, one layer at a time. Bogart isn’t just painting *of* something, he's building something *itself*. The grey, almost cement-like, substance spreads across the canvas in horizontal gestures at the bottom. It's like he’s making a landscape—or maybe an abstract seascape? The paint's so thick, it's almost sculptural. The top section has these gloopy, stalactite looking forms hanging down. He must have been so physical, so involved in the process. There’s a generosity to this work. It’s saying: “Hey, look what paint can do!” This feels like a conversation with painters like Guston or even, in a weird way, Twombly. The best painters always make you think, and feel, and then want to run back to your studio!