Schwarze Kette Grün zu Rot 1966

Ernst Wilhelm Nay made this painting, with its black chain going from green to red, with visible brushstrokes and a bright palette. I can imagine Nay, in his studio, layering the paint, maybe turning the canvas, wiping off, and adding more. The forms look like they’ve appeared through trial and error, like a drawing coming to life. The paint is thin, and the surface has a certain flatness to it, but that flatness becomes a space. That black chain is the star, tethering the composition while the other colors swirl around it. It almost feels like a performative act. I’m reminded of other painters who let their intuition guide them, like Joan Mitchell or Helen Frankenthaler, each gesture communicating a feeling, an intention, or a memory. It’s like they’re all in conversation, sharing ideas and inspiring each other across time. Ultimately, painting is about embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings.