Jack-in-the-Box 1969

Gene Davis made "Jack-in-the-Box" with paint, laying down these really calm vertical stripes. He’s working with this idea of artmaking as a process, where the doing becomes the point. Looking closely, you notice how flat the paint is, almost like a wall, yet the subtle color changes add a layer of depth. He’s clearly interested in the physicality of the medium, how these bands of color sit next to each other. The blues and greens on the left play against the warmer tones squeezed on the right, creating this visual vibration. Notice that very right edge, where the colors seem to bleed into each other? It’s like a whole other painting happening there, a party of soft hues. It all reminds me a little of Bridget Riley’s Op Art but with a softer touch. Davis invites you to get lost in the rhythm of the stripes, to feel the painting rather than just see it. It’s a reminder that art isn’t about answers, but about opening up possibilities.