"Cool" Series No. 7 (Square Shooter) 1963

Perle Fine made this “Cool” Series No. 7, Square Shooter with paint and canvas, but how cool is it, really? I’m interested in that red line at the top, how it meets that red square, they look like a single brush stroke, or a single idea, painted at the same time. The paint is thinly applied; you can see the tooth of the canvas. What is cool is how these flat planes float; there’s a spatial ambiguity. Is that red square advancing or receding? Hard to say. The way the colors are separated by distinct edges—no blending, no fuss—gives a feeling of clarity, a sort of visual algorithm. This feels very aligned with the work of someone like Agnes Martin. It has the same sense of simplicity and focus, but maybe with a slightly warmer, more playful vibe. Abstraction like this opens up a space for our own thoughts and feelings, without dictating a specific narrative.