Painting (white) 1945

Fritz Glarner made this painting, called Painting (white), and the title gives you a clue about what he's doing here. Glarner, like Mondrian, restricts himself to the simplest of forms, straight lines, and basic colors, so the physicality of the paint itself really comes to the fore. Look closely at the surface: there’s a subtle texture that catches the light. The paint isn’t applied thickly, but it’s not completely flat either. I like how he keeps that central white square, that buzzes with a quiet energy, like a space waiting to be filled. It is a good example of how you can work with a very simple set of rules and still create something that feels alive and dynamic. It reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin in its quiet intensity. It is interesting to see how Glarner takes the ideas of the De Stijl movement and gives them his own personal twist.