Microchromie ZL, 70 Vert jade 1970

Fernand Leduc made this captivating, single-color painting, Microchromie ZL, 70 Vert jade, with paint that just sits there, doing its thing. It’s a simple statement, but the real action is in the subtleties. Up close, you start to see how the color shifts slightly, revealing the touch of the artist's hand. The paint isn’t too thick, it’s evenly applied, almost like a glaze, allowing light to bounce gently across the surface. I love the way the texture isn't concealed; you can feel the physicality of the medium. Look at the top edge - there's a slight darkening, where perhaps an additional layer of paint was added, which grounds the color, adding weight and depth. This focus on color and texture reminds me of Mark Rothko, who also knew how to make color an emotional experience. Like Rothko’s work, Leduc's Microchromie invites us to lose ourselves in the infinite possibilities of color. It shows us that a painting doesn’t always need a clear image to be powerful; sometimes, it just needs the right color.