Range 1970

Brice Marden made this painting, Range, using oil and wax on canvas. It’s a minimalist composition, just three vertical bands of color, but there’s so much going on beneath the surface. The paint is matte and kind of chalky, it feels like the color is embedded in the surface, rather than sitting on top of it. The yellow is warm, almost buttery, but then you move to the grey, which is cool and subdued, and finally to the charcoal grey on the right, which feels almost like a shadow. Look closely, and you can see the subtle variations in each band. It's like Marden is layering colors to create depth and luminosity. This reminds me of Agnes Martin, with her subtle grids and muted palettes. Both artists embrace simplicity, but they also invite us to slow down and really look, to see the beauty in the everyday. Their works remind us that art is not just about what you see, but also about how you see.