Relational Painting, Tondo #1 1944

Fritz Glarner made this "Relational Painting, Tondo #1" with what looks like oil on wood, and you can see the hand of the artist in the slightly uneven lines and shapes, which is something I always look for. The surface has this cool, almost casual feel. The paint isn't trying too hard to be perfect; it's more about the relationships between the shapes and the space they create. There's this one red rectangle near the bottom that just pops, right? The way it intersects with the black lines, it's not just sitting there; it's like it's having a conversation with the rest of the painting. It reminds me a bit of Mondrian, but with a softer edge, like if Mondrian decided to chill out a little. I love that art can be so serious and playful at the same time, and this piece definitely walks that line.