Composition with Black 1984

Alexander Bogen made this unnamed "Composition with Black" with paint on canvas, and straight away, you can see how the black isn't really black – it's a mix of blues and purples, fighting for space with those strokes of red. The painting feels less like a picture, and more like a process. Check out the surface: the paint is thick and juicy in some spots, thin and transparent in others, with a raw canvas peeking through. You can almost see the brushstrokes, the way Bogen attacked the canvas, layering and scraping. Notice the bottom left corner, there is a concentrated burst of colour here, a build-up of paint. You can sense Bogen’s hand and the immediacy of his decisions. It is not about perfecting a picture. It reminds me a little of Joan Mitchell, with her bold strokes and emotional intensity. These artists show us that painting isn't about making something pretty, but about wrestling with the material and letting the process lead the way. And just like that, a painting emerges, full of energy and surprise.