Composition carmin, brune, jaune et grise 1956

This abstract composition was made by Serge Poliakoff using, it seems, printmaking techniques. It’s all about layering and seeing how different colours and shapes can play off each other. It’s like he’s built a little world out of colour! Looking closely, the textures give it away. See how the carmine and brown have this grainy, almost rough quality? It’s like you can feel the texture of the stone or plate he used to make it. And the way the colours overlap, especially with the yellows and greys, makes it all so rich. There’s a spot on the upper left where the carmine meets the textured brown, and it creates this beautiful tension – a kind of push and pull that keeps your eye moving. Poliakoff reminds me a little of the later work of someone like Sean Scully, playing with colour and form, and always looking to strike the right chord. It’s not about perfection, but about finding something that feels right, even if it’s a little off-kilter.