Untitled 1961

This untitled work by Michael Goldberg features energetic brushstrokes and a vibrant palette. The reds, blues, ochres, and blacks create a sense of depth and movement on the surface. I imagine Goldberg working quickly, intuitively, layering colors, pushing and pulling the paint. The charcoal-like marks create a solid anchor, allowing other more transparent layers to emerge. The ochre paint drips, acting like fingers that are reaching down to touch something. Maybe a memory? It reminds me of the work of other New York School painters, like Joan Mitchell or Helen Frankenthaler, who were also exploring gesture, color, and abstraction as a form of expression. And in a way it also makes me think of Cy Twombly, with its calligraphic, almost playful use of line. All these painters are in conversation with one another, inspiring each other. Ultimately, this painting is a reminder that art doesn't have to be about answers, but can instead be a space for questions, possibilities, and ongoing dialogues.