Red and Yellow 1951

Ellsworth Kelly made this intriguing colour study, Red and Yellow, sometime in his career, using paint, probably gouache. Look at that dividing line, the meeting of these two blocks of pure colour. It's so sharp, so precise, almost like a knife-edge. There's something so satisfying about how these hues sit together, solid and unapologetic. The red, a rich, deep tone, and the yellow, muted, almost creamy. The flatness of the colours reminds me of Matisse, who also knew a thing or two about the joy of colour. Both artists understand that there’s a whole universe of feeling within pure form. Kelly's reductive simplicity isn't just about making things easier; it's about distilling the essence of seeing itself. I love the way it embraces simplicity, inviting endless possibilities.