Firebox 1964

Gene Davis made this painting, "Firebox", using stripes of color – a deceptively simple strategy. It's the kind of thing that makes you think, "Hey, I could do that!" But of course, you couldn't. I love the way the colors play off each other; it’s like a visual chord. They’re not blended, but the way they sit next to each other is a study in relationships. Take a look at the olive green stripe. It's kind of muted, but it holds its own against the bolder reds. The painting is flat and pretty smooth, no wild gestural brushstrokes here; that lets the colors do all the talking. This piece reminds me a little of Agnes Martin's grids, or maybe even some of the early Op Art folks, but Davis brings his own sense of rhythm and play to the game. It's a reminder that art isn't always about complexity; sometimes, it's about finding the magic in the simplest of forms.