Nylon One 1967

Robert Huot made this painting, Nylon One, out of, well, I presume paint on canvas. But what kind of paint? It's like the ghost of a color field painting, so subtle that it’s almost not there. The weave of the canvas is so present, it feels like the image is woven into the fabric rather than painted on. Look closely at the edges where the darker, outer square meets the brighter, inner one. The paint is so thin that you can see the canvas texture right through it. The whole thing is like a whisper, a breath of color. It reminds me of Agnes Martin's work, with its quiet intensity and focus on the grid. Both artists show us that painting doesn't always have to be loud to be powerful. There's a real strength in Huot's restraint, an invitation to slow down and really see. Which is, perhaps, what art is all about?