Red 4 1990

Jurgen Partenheimer made "Red 4" with paint, and what grabs me is how it uses basic shapes to evoke complex feelings. The texture is so present, isn’t it? The red is thick, opaque, almost like a wall, and the blue is like a sky behind it. The white lines act like both frame and gate, at once dividing the canvas and suggesting a way through. The materiality isn’t hidden; you can see the brushstrokes, the layering, which adds to this sense of artmaking as a process. Look how the red paint has been applied in layers, creating depth and suggesting forms beneath the surface. It feels like there’s a whole world contained within this red. Partenheimer’s work makes me think of Agnes Martin, but maybe with a bit more angst, a bit more struggle. It's a reminder that art doesn't need to shout; it can whisper, and still carry profound meaning. And ultimately, it's about how we see, how we feel, and how we connect with the world around us.