Midnight Watch 1976

Gene Davis created Midnight Watch, an undated color field painting, using vertical stripes of various colors. Davis was active in Washington D.C. from the 1940s to the 1980s, a time when the city was becoming a notable center for contemporary art. He was associated with the Washington Color School, a movement that emphasized large fields of pure color and simplified forms, pushing against the dominant trends of abstract expressionism and its connection to the individual artistic genius. Davis's stripes, while seemingly simple, engage with the wider context of American art institutions and the public role of art. His focus on color and form over narrative or representation implicitly critiques traditional notions of artistic skill and meaning. By removing recognizable imagery, Davis challenges us to reconsider how we find meaning in art, and in the world around us. To fully appreciate Davis's contribution, one can delve into the archives of the Washington Color School, exhibition catalogs, and critical reviews of the period.