Waterloo 1965

Norman Bluhm made this painting, Waterloo, with confident strokes of orange and black. I wonder what it was like to stand in front of this canvas, brush in hand, thinking, "I'm going to make something big, something bold." Maybe Bluhm started with the black, defining the edges, setting the stage. Then came the orange, slashing across the white, full of energy. Look how the paint sits on the surface. It's not shy or timid. It’s thick in places, creating texture, a record of each movement. That circle, almost like a target, or maybe a portal, adds a layer of mystery. Bluhm’s paintings are often like this, full of movement and emotion. You can see echoes of de Kooning, that same willingness to take risks, to let the painting evolve. Painters, we're all in conversation, riffing off each other, borrowing, stealing, and transforming ideas across generations. Painting isn't about answers; it’s about possibilities. It's an ongoing exchange of feelings, intuitions, and gestures.