Silent Seasons - Spring 1971

Will Barnet made "Silent Seasons - Spring," using flat colors, clean lines and simplified forms that lock together like puzzle pieces. There is something so satisfying in the way his painting balances observation and abstraction. Barnet applied his paints thinly in translucent layers. If you look closely, the grain of the paper support shows through in certain areas. I am especially drawn to the bird perched outside the window. It is rendered with such tenderness and care, from its feathered body to its bright eyes. The texture of its plumage is suggested through subtle variations in tone. It is set against the clear sky, an opening to the outside world. There's a stillness to this piece which reminds me of Alex Katz. Both artists are masters of capturing fleeting moments with an economy of means. But where Katz is cool and detached, Barnet is warm and intimate. I think that is what makes his work so enduring. The emotional content is palpable.