Untitled 1967

This dynamic, untitled work was made by the Portuguese artist António Palolo, who died in 2000. It is rendered with relatively simple materials – ink and gouache. The artist uses a light touch, with freely drawn lines outlining semi-abstract shapes. The gouache is applied flatly, in a graphic style, with bold colors that catch the eye. The artist here engages with the history of drawing and painting, but also brings to mind graphic design and illustration, using a reduced palette and minimal shading. Palolo’s approach also conveys a sense of playfulness. He’s unafraid to leave areas of the composition unfinished, with lines trailing off into the white space of the paper. In doing so, he elevates the status of these everyday materials and making processes, blurring boundaries between the fine and applied arts.