Autumn Suite C 1970

Autumn Suite C is an artwork by Conrad Marca-Relli, and I am imagining him carefully placing these collage elements, moving them around until they click into place. I want to think about the making of this piece. I can see Marca-Relli building this up—the solid grey background, the shapes in the middle. It's a symphony of subtle tones. I'm wondering, what if that black circle was a different color? How would that change the piece? Color is so powerful. This is a painting that doesn't shout; it whispers. It reminds me a little of Kurt Schwitters, that playful approach to form and material. Like Schwitters, Marca-Relli's sense of abstract composition feels simultaneously random and absolutely perfect. It's a testament to the fact that painting is an ongoing conversation, and we are all just adding our voices to the mix.