Study for a Painting 1939

Ad Reinhardt made this little painting called 'Study for a Painting' in 1939. The title tells us that it is a preparation for something else, but is it? I imagine him moving around these shapes like pieces on a board. The colours are muted, like faded memories, with splashes of reds, pinks and blacks. The painting feels like a playful arrangement of forms. I can picture Reinhardt’s hand, carefully placing each element, trying to balance colour and composition. The little figure made of lines looks like they’re conducting the whole thing! Perhaps it's a game, or a puzzle, with the artist trying to figure out the relationships between the shapes. You know, Reinhardt was known for his abstract works, but here we see him experimenting with something looser. It reminds me of Miró or even some of Gorky’s playful abstractions. Artists are always in conversation, and I think Reinhardt was definitely listening. Ultimately, it's a painting that leaves you wondering and imagining. And that’s a good thing.