Untitled 1961

Emerson Woelffer made this abstract black and white print, and it’s full of quick gestures. I can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the surface, deciding how much pressure to apply. The two egg-like shapes make me think about life and growth. Imagine Woelffer in the studio, experimenting, maybe messing up, but then discovering something new. See how the brushstrokes inside each oval are different? Like mirror images, or maybe two sides of the same thought. Woelffer was part of an exciting generation of artists always looking to push the boundaries, like de Kooning and Gorky. And you can see that spirit of experimentation here. With its combination of geometric composition and calligraphic brushstrokes, you could hang it next to Franz Kline. Each artist has their own distinct voice but at the same time, they are engaged in an ongoing conversation about what painting can be. The way he embraces this open-endedness – it really embodies the spirit of painting for me.