Two White Birds on a Gray Ground Possibly 1961

Georges Braque made this artwork, Two White Birds on a Gray Ground, and it feels like he found a way to catch a quiet moment on paper. It’s all subtle tones, and the way the marks are laid down suggests a real attention to the process. Look at the surface – it’s not about hiding the hand of the artist, but embracing it. The paint is thin, almost like a wash, which lets the paper breathe through. You can see the strokes, the way the brush moved, especially around the edges of the birds, where the gray meets the white. It’s like he’s inviting us to watch him think, to see the painting come together, bit by bit. The whole composition is so calm and peaceful, yet there's a dynamism within the frame; those simple birds seem like they could fly right out of it. Braque's birds remind me of the work of Cy Twombly in the way he evokes a sense of freedom and space with just a few, well-placed marks. With art, it's always a conversation, isn't it?