Column Paintings 2004

These Column Paintings by Robert Mangold, made with paint on canvas, are so quiet! The process feels really meditative. Like he’s thinking through the act of painting, making visible the most essential moves. I find myself drawn to the surface quality of the paint – it's like a whisper of color. It doesn't scream; it hums. You can almost feel the hand of the artist, softly coaxing the pigment across the surface. Notice how the simple curves interact with the edges of the canvas, it's like they're trying to escape! Mangold reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin in his reduction of form. Both artists invite us to slow down, to really *see* the subtle variations in color and line. It’s less about what's depicted and more about how it makes you feel. In a world that's constantly shouting, this work invites us to listen to the silence.