Two+Two 1967

Robert Huot made this panel painting, Two + Two, with paint on canvas. Here, the way the different segments of tone meet is key; it’s all about where and how those boundaries are drawn. In this piece, it looks like Huot is really enjoying the process of figuring out how the components might fit together. The painting has a subdued palette of blacks and browns which creates a sense of calm. The eye moves between these two hues, noticing the subtle differences in texture and tone. Up close, you can see a slight build-up of paint in the darker areas which contrast with the flatter surface of the lighter areas. See how the black square that dominates the bottom center bleeds out ever so slightly, giving it an imprecise finish. Huot’s panel painting invites us to slow down, to look closely, and to appreciate the quiet beauty of simple forms and understated gestures. It makes me think a little bit of Agnes Martin, or maybe even some of the early work by Ellsworth Kelly, but with its own unique sensibility. Like all great art, it remains open to multiple interpretations and endless contemplation.