A through L Colored Maze 1966

Frank Stella made 'A through L Colored Maze' with colored pencil, probably sometime in the sixties. It’s a geometric composition that seems to vibrate with a kind of optical energy. The colored pencil lines are carefully drawn on graph paper. You can see the grid underneath. The lines are straight, but because of the softness of the medium, they have a gentle, slightly uneven quality, like a heartbeat. The colors, alternating blues, yellows, reds, greens and purples, are quite vibrant. They play off each other, creating a sense of depth and movement. Look closely, and you'll notice that some of the lines are thicker than others. This gives the maze a sense of rhythm and variation. The drawing is related to Stella's paintings, which often feature geometric patterns and bold colors. But the drawing has a more intimate feel, like a sketch or a study. You could also relate it to the work of Sol Lewitt, who explored geometric abstraction with a similar sense of rigor and playfulness. Art is just talking to each other, right?