Untitled 1943

This untitled artwork by Hans Hofmann is made with ink on paper. It's all about the process, isn't it? The way the ink bleeds and pools, the frantic energy of the lines – it feels like Hofmann was chasing something, maybe an idea, maybe just the sheer joy of making a mark. Look at that big eye shape staring out at us, it’s not really an eye, but it watches us all the same. The ink varies from thick, saturated blacks to watery greys, giving the whole thing a sense of depth and movement, there are so many layers here. What is concealed and revealed in the process of mark making? Is the artist obscuring or illuminating? It makes me think of Franz Kline, another artist who wasn't afraid to let the energy of the moment guide his hand. Art is a conversation, a back-and-forth between artists across time. It’s never really about having all the answers, but about embracing the questions.