Study for Stander 1967

Brice Marden created this ‘Study for Stander’ to explore space and form. Arriving on the art scene in the 1960s, Marden challenged the prevailing artistic norms through abstraction. Marden's work exists at the intersection of personal expression and formal exploration. His subtle color fields invite contemplation, a stark contrast to the loud, Pop Art aesthetic of the time. Marden’s paintings often elicit a bodily experience. Their scale is human, and their surfaces reveal the intimate gestures of the artist’s hand. In ‘Study for Stander’, the vertical lines can be seen as metaphors for the human figure, standing in a state of quiet contemplation. The muted tones and subtle variations in color suggest a space for introspection. Marden’s focus on simplicity becomes a means to slow down the viewer and consider the emotional weight of color and form. It’s an invitation to reflect on the act of standing, both physically and metaphorically, in relation to the world around us.