Stripes 1957

Gene Davis made this striped painting with thin layers of acrylic on canvas, and its got a real feel of process. The paint is so thin it feels like the stripes were almost breathed onto the surface. They run vertically, side by side, but each has a totally different character. I love how the initial drips create a sense of movement, like each colour is rushing to join the others. Looking closely, I see one red stripe in particular. It bleeds a bit at the edges, almost like it's sweating. It makes me think about how a painting isn't just a flat image, it's a record of time, a physical thing with its own life. This reminds me of Helen Frankenthaler; both artists really let the paint do its thing! Ultimately, this painting is all about the joy of colour and the freedom of gesture. It's not trying to be anything other than what it is: a beautiful, simple, and totally engaging dance of stripes.