Untitled 1968

Maurice Esteve made this untitled watercolor and gouache painting, where shapes float like memories in a dream. Imagine Esteve in his studio, layering washes of vibrant blues, reds, yellows, and greens, coaxing them into being through playful experiments. Look at the way he juxtaposes the hard edge of the blue block with the watery softness of the surrounding hues. It’s as if each color is allowed to breathe and find its own space on the paper. I love to think of the studio as a place where artists respond to each other across time and space. Esteve was a painter who knew and loved the work of Matisse, Picasso, and Delaunay and he translated their ideas into his own visual language. His paintings have a lyrical, vibrant quality, reflecting the joyous spirit of abstract art. We can explore how artists echo, diverge, and riff on each other's themes. Painting is not just about what's on the canvas, but about the conversations it sparks and the shared language of creativity.