Hawkeye II 1971

Milton Resnick created Hawkeye II with generous amounts of oil paint, applied in short, staccato strokes. The painting's all-over composition emphasizes the material qualities of paint itself, its inherent texture and weight. Look closely, and you'll see how the layered brushstrokes create a dense, almost tactile surface, reflecting Resnick's process of building up the image through repeated gestures. The work's social significance lies in its departure from traditional modes of representation. Instead of depicting a recognizable subject, Resnick focused on the act of painting itself, elevating the material and process to the forefront. This emphasis challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the skill and labor involved in creating the painting, and in turn the wider politics of consumption. By prioritizing material and making, we can understand an artwork's full meaning beyond its surface appearance.