Patrick Caulfield in Italy 1992

Howard Hodgkin made this painting, Patrick Caulfield in Italy, with oil paint and perhaps a brush – but who knows? It's a pretty direct, active, and vibrant painting with decisive and gestural marks in a bold color palette. I imagine Hodgkin starting with a general idea or feeling, then shifting and adjusting until it felt right. Maybe he was thinking about Caulfield, his friend, and the bright light of Italy. It is like a landscape painting, but one of feeling: a very hot, intense, but also joyful feeling! The yellow and black arcs create a sense of movement, while the strokes of green, orange, and blue add depth. It makes me think of other abstract painters who weren't afraid to get a little messy. Ultimately, painting is about a conversation: a shared understanding between artists across time, inspiring one another’s creativity and encouraging new interpretations. It's not about saying one thing, but about embracing the messiness of interpretation.