Untitled 1961

Jean Messagier made this untitled artwork with fluid brushstrokes and a vibrant green palette. He really gets into the process. The surface has this amazing, almost wet look, like he just swept a garden hose over it. The paint isn’t thick, more like a wash, letting light bounce around. It’s got that breezy feel, like when you’re sitting in the grass, and the wind is just whooshing all around, making the green shimmer. See how the brushstrokes swirl and loop? There’s this one big curve right in the middle, it's like a big, goofy smile. I’m reminded of Joan Mitchell’s landscapes, how she uses color to evoke a feeling of a place, without being too literal. Messagier seems to be having a conversation with nature and abstraction, showing us that painting isn't about answers, but about asking questions.