Telephone Booths 1967

Richard Estes made this painting of telephone booths, and right away I'm drawn to the way he handled light and reflection. It’s like the painting is less about the booths themselves and more about capturing the city’s fleeting images. I imagine Estes, out there on the street, maybe snapping some photos first, then back in the studio, patiently layering the paint to get those metallic surfaces just right. The way the colors bounce off the chrome, distorting the world around it, must have taken real concentration. There is a push-pull between flatness and depth that creates an interesting tension for the viewer. That open door, slightly ajar, is particularly inviting. It suggests an entry point, but into what exactly? A conversation? A memory? A different kind of space? It reminds me of how Hopper used light and shadow to create a mood. Estes seems to be doing something similar, but with the added layer of urban grit. Paintings like these remind us that looking is a skill, but seeing is an art.