Andalousie 1954

Maurice Esteve made "Andalousie" with paint on canvas, and what grabs me first is the way he fearlessly lets color lead the way. It's like he's saying, "I trust this orange, this yellow, this blue." Look at how the colors bump up against each other; they don't quite mix but hum with energy. The shapes feel like they emerged from a playful wrestling match with the paint itself, each blob and line a testament to the joy of process. Take that snaking, burnt-orange line that travels from the bottom right. It’s almost cartoonish, yet it firmly anchors the composition. Maybe this playfulness comes from Matisse, who let shapes find their voice. This painting feels like a celebration of not knowing exactly where you're going but enjoying the journey nonetheless. It shows how embracing ambiguity can be its own reward.