Untitled 1971

Here's this untitled work by Brice Marden; you can tell he's making some very careful decisions using wax and graphite on paper. I can imagine Marden layering the wax, scraping it back, and adding more graphite. It’s almost like he’s building up this history on the surface. The subtle tonal shifts, from dark velvety blacks to the off-white surrounding it—the painting feels like it’s breathing. It's such a controlled palette, so restrained, but within that, there's this whole world of texture and depth. I wonder if he's thinking about Rothko's color fields or even Agnes Martin's subtle grids. Painters are always looking at other painters, borrowing and riffing off each other's ideas; we are always participating in this silent conversation across time. I love how Marden embraces the limitations of his materials, allowing the process to guide him. It’s in that space of uncertainty that the magic happens.