Addition V 1959

Morris Louis made this painting, Addition V, with acrylic on canvas, and what strikes me is its scale, and the way he built it up. I can imagine him pouring translucent washes of red, green and black paint onto the canvas, letting them bleed and merge. I love the way he’s let the paint do its thing, embracing its fluidity. It's like he’s conducting an experiment, right? Watching how the colours interact and form these hazy, ethereal shapes. These veils of color create depth and movement. I think the way the colours stain the canvas is a nod to Helen Frankenthaler and others, like a conversation across time. The black areas, in particular, feel like they’re anchoring the composition, giving weight to the more ephemeral reds and greens. There’s something very human about the marks he left behind, a reminder of the artist’s hand and eye.