R73-6 1973

This artwork, R73-6, is by Johannes Jan Schoonhoven. It’s a relief, which means it’s three-dimensional, kind of like a very shallow sculpture. What strikes me is how Schoonhoven uses repetition to create a sense of calm, but also a kind of optical vibration. The white-on-white palette keeps it cool and restrained, but then you get up close, and the texture is like a topographical map. I can imagine Schoonhoven building up each little ridge, one by one. Each mark feels both deliberate and incidental, you know? That top left corner, where the shadows are deepest, is where I see the artist's hand most clearly. It's not just about perfect geometry; it's about the subtle imperfections that make it human. Thinking about the work of Agnes Martin, where the grid becomes a field of infinite variation. Both artists remind us that art doesn't always have to shout to be heard; sometimes, the quietest voices are the most powerful.