Morgenrot 1965

Jacques Busse made "Morgenrot" using paint, probably in the 1960s. The painting is all about these faceted shapes of reds, browns, and blacks that are not quite squares, rectangles, or diamonds. There’s an improvisational feel, like Busse was figuring it out as he went along. I love to think about what it might have been like for him to make this, layering on each colour, each brushstroke a decision. It's like a visual puzzle. The dark lines don't just outline the shapes; they also seem to push them forward and backward. The texture is smooth, with no visible brushstrokes. The paint looks thin. It’s as if Busse wanted to emphasize the colours. He has a strong sense of composition, a rhythm that echoes the geometric playfulness of other artists. Painters are always chatting to one another across time, riffing on each other’s ideas and inspiring the next generation of creatives. This painting embraces ambiguity and uncertainty. There's no right way to look at it.