Eight Colour Groups 1947

Max Bill made this painting with some kind of paint and a brush, maybe, and what I love is how the colours seem to hold their breath. The surface is so smooth, like he’s trying to make the paint disappear. But it doesn’t, does it? You can feel the quiet presence of each colour as if it's been patiently laid down, one next to the other. Look at how the orange squares pop, almost daring you to connect them with a line. It’s like a secret code, or a game of hopscotch, and it shows how simple shapes can be really fun. Bill reminds me a bit of Mondrian, but with a softer touch, less rigid maybe. It's like he’s saying, “Let’s play with these shapes and colours, but let’s not take it all too seriously. OK?”