Open No. 122 in Scarlet and Blue 1969

Robert Motherwell made "Open No. 122 in Scarlet and Blue" with paint, and it's all about the push and pull of color and form. The way he lays down these blocks of red and blue feels so immediate, like he's figuring it out as he goes along. Looking closely, you can see how the red is built up in layers, giving it a real depth, while the blue rectangle hovers on top, slightly imperfect. The edges are scruffy, almost like he’s wiping away the paint as much as applying it. It’s this tension between control and chance that makes the painting so alive. That little gesture in the lower right corner, that almost hidden signature, feels like the final, playful note in the whole composition. For me, Motherwell’s work always sparks a dialogue with artists like Matisse, who were masters of using color to create space and emotion, reminding us that art is a conversation across generations.