Untitled (Red and Gray) 1950

Ad Reinhardt made this untitled painting with oil on canvas. The bold contrast between the red and gray shapes is immediately striking, but as you look closer, you can see how each color interacts with the other, creating a sense of depth and movement. The surface has a tactile quality. It is made of thin layers of paint, applied with care, and attention. I can almost feel the push and pull of the brushstrokes. Look at the way the red shapes seem to float above the gray background. It is as if Reinhardt is exploring the very act of perception itself. Reinhardt once said that painting should be "the last object that one could ever make." Like his contemporary Agnes Martin, Reinhardt embraced reduction and simplicity to unlock something more profound. He was obsessed with process and repetition, using these methods to help him uncover the spiritual essence of art.