Crescendo 1963

Ernst Wilhelm Nay made this painting, Crescendo, with confident brushstrokes of white, blue, and touches of red. The background feels like deep space, and on top of it, shapes emerge. I imagine Nay in his studio, pushing paint around, finding forms in the process. There’s a big, dark circle that dominates, like a lens focusing the energy of the whole painting. The lines are not quite controlled—I mean, they waver and drip. That’s what gives it life. The white strokes feel like bursts of light or energy, cutting through the darkness. I am thinking of Franz Kline, but this has a different feel—more grounded. The patches of red are like little sparks, igniting the canvas. It feels kind of raw, like he’s digging into something primal. It's like all of us painters are talking to each other across time. Nay is in that conversation, adding his voice, and that’s the crescendo. Painting isn’t about answers, it is about feeling. It allows for multiple interpretations.