"Cool" Series No. 46 (Spanking Fresh) 1963

Perle Fine was probably standing close to the canvas when she made "Cool" Series No. 46, layering warm red hues with a cool blue rectangle, all with oil paint. I imagine her, lost in the act of painting, making decisions almost unconsciously. It's kind of brave to put two such simple shapes together and call it a day. But the more I look at it, the more I realize that this painting isn't just about geometry. It's about color and surface, texture and edges. The red feels warm and enveloping, while the blue offers a refreshing contrast. I think Fine was onto something with these "cool" paintings, playing with color and form in a way that feels both spontaneous and considered. In a weird way, it makes me think of Rothko's color fields, but with a slightly different vibe. It reminds us that artists are constantly in conversation, riffing off each other's ideas and pushing the boundaries of what painting can be.