Spears 1974

Moshe Kupferman made 'Spears,' a painting of vertical lines, we don't know exactly when, but likely in the latter half of the 20th century. This piece feels like a set of rules, maybe self-imposed, maybe something from life. I love how the light lines sit on that deep blue. Look closely, and you see that the paint isn't applied to create a smooth surface, but rather the texture suggests a history of layering, scraping, and reworking. You can sense the physicality of the process. The lines have a raw, handmade quality, they are imperfect, which brings a certain warmth to the work. It reminds me of Agnes Martin, another artist who used the grid, but I think Kupferman's touch is somehow more urgent, more human. It's in the subtle variations, the slight wobbles and imperfections that the painting finds its voice. It is a conversation about the nature of mark-making, the tension between control and accident, and the beauty that can emerge from the simple act of repetition.