Then by Necessity 2013

Jacob Kassay’s "Then by Necessity" is a minimal monochrome artwork in shades of white. Looking at this painting, I'm struck by the surface quality, its flatness. It reminds me of those moments in the studio when you're trying to eliminate every trace of your hand. But here, the shape itself feels so intentional, so decisive, that it becomes the gesture. I can imagine Jacob standing back, squinting, making tiny adjustments until it feels just right. I wonder what he was thinking, trying to get away from the expressionist urge, or whether it's about finding a new language for painting. The artist must have wanted to leave room for the viewer. Kassay engages in a similar dialogue with the history of art, pushing and pulling against the conventions of painting while still participating in the conversation.