7 1986

Curator: Here we have Brice Marden's print, simply titled "7." Editor: My first impression is of raw energy contained within a strict grid; the texture looks almost accidental. Curator: Marden's process involves layering ink and scraping it away, a physically demanding technique leaving evidence of its making. The materiality is front and center. Editor: Yes, that layering creates a complex surface. Note the interplay between the bold black lines and the subtle grey undertones—a sophisticated push and pull. Curator: The grid structure, though challenged by the gestural marks, offers a framework for understanding how Marden balances control with freedom. Editor: It also makes you wonder about the pressures involved in that controlled spontaneity. The act of creation, etched onto the plate itself. Curator: A thought-provoking piece indeed, revealing the artist's hand in the final image. Editor: Absolutely, the labor really comes through—a testament to the art's physical construction.