Red Black on Grey 1971

John Hoyland made this artwork, Red Black on Grey, with paint. Looking at it, I’m really taken by the interplay of those hazy hues and the geometry. I can imagine Hoyland in his studio, maybe in the midst of a long day, layering those shapes with a brush or maybe something else entirely. There is a real push and pull happening. Those pinks and reds feel both grounded and kind of fleeting against the muted grey field. And notice the splatters? They’re like little bursts of energy. You know, Helen Frankenthaler did similar things? I wonder if Hoyland was thinking about color theory or just going with his gut. That red shape feels so solid and yet, the edges are soft, like it could dissolve at any moment. It’s like he’s showing us that painting is never really fixed, it’s always in motion, always becoming. And aren't we all?