Brise d'Automne 1975

"Brise d'Automne" by Marcel Barbeau seems to have emerged from a whirlwind of color and gesture. Imagine the artist, maybe with a loaded brush, or maybe flicking the paint directly, creating this flurry of black lines, splatters, and drips, all dancing with reds, yellows and blues. I sympathize with the artist here, because you have to be brave to make a painting like this. So much energy and risk! You can see the material quality of the painting, thick and thin in places, with a surface that feels both chaotic and controlled. I love the way that single black gesture cuts across the canvas, full of intention but also totally free. Barbeau's work reminds me of other action painters, all in conversation, inspiring each other to embrace chance and improvisation. For me, paintings like this aren't about answers, but about the joy of seeing and feeling in new ways, always open to new readings.