Untitled (Orange Painting) 1955

Robert Ryman made this painting with a brush and layers of orange paint. The process gives real insight into Ryman’s work, and how its material influences its appearance, texture, weight, color and form. The application of paint is clearly visible, showing how the paint was applied in layers to build up the rich orange color. Ryman engaged with art history and aesthetics by using traditional materials to question the nature of painting itself, with visible brushstrokes and the texture created through the layers of paint. There is an honesty to the process and visible labor, with the awareness that the application of labor and process are vital in our understanding of the work. It challenges how we perceive art by focusing on the materials, the making, and context.