Posted 1977

Joan Mitchell made 'Posted' using oil paint, and you can really see the physicality of that medium here. What strikes me is how the painting isn't just about a scene, but about the act of painting itself. The surface has a distinct texture from the brushstrokes. Mitchell applied the paint with such vigor! Thick dabs and strokes of blues and greens create an almost tactile experience. Look closely, and you can see how she loaded the brush, pressing it firmly to the canvas, leaving behind these chunky, expressive marks. It's like she's inviting us to feel the weight and viscosity of the paint. There's a spot in the upper left where the blue kind of bleeds into the green, it's a reminder that art is an ongoing experiment, and there are no fixed answers. The work of Helen Frankenthaler comes to mind, both artists share a similar sense of freedom.