Rossorosa (Redpink) 1966

Carla Accardi made 'Rossorosa', or 'Redpink', using paint on plastic, and it’s, well, it’s exactly that! It's just so unapologetically pink and red. I like to imagine Accardi in her studio, maybe in Rome, surrounded by vibrant colors, experimenting with how these hues play off each other. The brushstrokes aren't trying to hide; they're right there, bold and declarative. Those vertical marks, like standing up for themselves in a world that is often not as bright as it could be. I wonder if she was thinking about the light in Italy, the way it hits the buildings, making everything glow. It’s like she captured a sunset and bottled it. Accardi was really onto something, exploring color and form in such a raw, almost punk way. She reminds me of other painters, like Helen Frankenthaler, who were pushing the boundaries of what painting could be, embracing the mess, the emotion. Painting is an ongoing conversation, and Accardi's right in the thick of it.