Light in Dark 1986

Richards Ruben made "Light in Dark" without a specified date, but I see how light and dark operate as a process, kind of like a dance on the canvas. The materiality here is key. Look closely, and you'll see how Ruben uses thick, almost sculptural strokes of black paint, contrasted with thin washes of color peeking through. It's like he's excavating light from the darkness. That one bold stroke of blue and red on the right? It's not just color; it's a physical presence, a jolt of energy that cuts through the gloom. Ruben's play with abstraction reminds me of the New York School painters, like Franz Kline, who were similarly obsessed with gesture and form. But Ruben brings his own flavor, a sensitivity to color that complicates the starkness. With all these layers, this piece isn't about answers, but about embracing the questions.