Beside the Sea No. 18 1962

Robert Motherwell made "Beside the Sea No. 18" with paint, exploring the raw energy of gesture. It's all about process, about letting the paint do its thing, almost like a dance. Look at the blues, how they explode across the canvas. They're not trying to be neat, or perfect, but they convey a sense of freedom. You can almost feel the motion in those marks, the way the paint splattered and dripped. Then you get this horizon line in more grounded colors like greens, browns and darker blues. Now, focus on that big, swooping blue arc at the top. It's like a wave crashing or a bird in flight. The energy is palpable. It reminds me of Joan Miró, and his playful, almost childlike approach to form. Ultimately, what makes this piece great is that it embraces ambiguity, inviting us to find our own meaning in those spontaneous marks. It's like Motherwell is saying, "Here's the paint, now you tell the story."