Untitled (Black and White Lines on Red Background) 1965

Lorser Feitelson made this untitled painting with black and white lines on a red background sometime during his lifetime, before 1978. The red just sucks you right in, doesn't it? It's a very particular red, not too warm, not too cool, but definitely intense. And then you have these lines, some black, some white, just swooping across, like they're dancing. It's the kind of painting where you can practically see the artist’s hand moving. There's this one black line on the left that seems to be holding back, while the white lines are just shooting forward. It's like a little drama playing out. I think he has something in common with Agnes Martin, maybe. Not in the obvious ways, but in the way, they both reduce painting to these very basic elements. Anyway, it's a painting that doesn't try too hard, but still manages to get under your skin.