The Fountain 2018

Joshua Flint made this painting, The Fountain, with what looks like oils or acrylics, sometime after 1977. The palette’s mostly blues and grays, giving it this nocturnal, mysterious vibe, like something you’re not really supposed to be seeing. You can feel the process; it's all about the layering and the pushing around of paint. I love how Flint handles the surface. It’s not about hiding the brushstrokes but letting them dance and play. The paint looks thin in some spots, thick in others, which adds to the mood. Take a look at the way he’s rendered the light reflecting off the water. It's all broken and fragmented, like a memory or a dream. It’s not about clarity but about feeling. This reminds me a little of Gerhard Richter’s blurry, photographic paintings. But where Richter feels detached and cool, Flint is all heart. Ultimately, this piece embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own stories and feelings to it. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation, a back-and-forth between the artist and the viewer.