Platter under Georgia Fish 1966

Ivan Albright made this painting of fish on a platter with a kind of urgency and fluidity. It feels almost unfinished, like he was chasing something slippery. Look at the bold red strokes forming the backdrop, and how they contrast with the muted, metallic tones of the fish scales. I imagine him, brush in hand, intensely focused, trying to capture the essence of these creatures. The paint is applied in such a way that it feels both deliberate and spontaneous. See how the outlines are loose, almost dissolving into the background. It's like he's not just painting fish, but the very idea of fish-ness. There’s a painterly conversation happening here, one that echoes artists like Soutine, but with a uniquely Albright twist. It’s not about perfection; it’s about feeling and raw expression. It reminds us that painting is a living, breathing thing, always changing, always in process.