The Checkerboard 1915

Juan Gris made this painting called 'The Checkerboard' out of oil on canvas. Gris's approach to color in this piece feels so strategic. He’s laid down these blocks of green, yellow, and brown, like he's building a structure. I’m thinking about my own process, how sometimes I start with a color that feels right and build everything else around it. Look at the surface; the paint isn't trying to hide itself. You can see the brushstrokes. It’s like he wants you to know this is paint, this is a construction. See how the checkerboard pattern butts up against the wood grain? It’s like a conversation between different ways of seeing. There is a lot of layering and collage happening here. It brings to mind Picasso and Braque. It’s not about fooling you, but showing you how a painting can be a space for ideas to play.