Railroad Gate 1989

Ronnie Landfield made this painting, Railroad Gate, with loose, fluid brushstrokes, sort of like a watercolour, but with richer, more saturated colours. There is this push and pull in the piece. The title evokes a definite subject, but the marks suggest something else. On the left, a black and white web of sharp, bold strokes feels spontaneous, while the right side has softer, blended hues creating depth. The lower register of vibrant orange holds everything in place. Check out the cluster of green and yellow in the middle. It seems to hover, but it is held in place by the weight of the earthy red at the bottom. I feel like there are two artists at work here. It makes me think of Helen Frankenthaler because of the way Landfield lets the paint soak into the canvas. But with an edge, like early work by Brice Marden. Ultimately, Railroad Gate is an invitation to embrace uncertainty.