Untitled 1960

This untitled painting was made by Zdzislaw Beksinski, we don't know exactly when, and it's 88 x 60 cm. Looking at this painting, I immediately think of excavation. The colour palette is metallic and gray, like looking at lead or pewter. It’s a framed surface with what looks like a hole cut out of it, with a latticework of gridded marks scratched or etched into the space around it. I wonder what Beksinski was thinking as he made it? He was known for his dystopian surrealist imagery. The paint looks almost corroded – there are moments where it looks like the paint is peeling away, revealing a hidden layer underneath. It’s got me wondering how this piece relates to his wider body of work, particularly his darker, more surreal pieces. There’s a feeling of something being unearthed or revealed, like an archeological dig. Painters are always in conversation with one another across time, inspiring each other's creativity. I think this painting embodies a spirit of experimentation and discovery. Its ambiguity allows for multiple interpretations, reflecting painting’s ability to capture our inner worlds.