Healed Scar 1946

Tihamer Gyarmathy made this painting called 'Healed Scar' using a gridded layout and some very cool blues and greens. The way he divides the space reminds me that artmaking is like building something from scratch. Looking at this work, I'm struck by its texture, a kind of built-up surface with thin, washy layers of colour. See how the squares aren't solid? You can sense the brushstrokes underneath, creating a depth that's almost like looking through water. There's one square in the lower center, a vibrant, darker green, surrounded by a thin black line. It stands out because it feels both contained and like it's trying to push beyond its boundary. This piece gives me a kind of Neo-Plasticism-meets-Abstract-Expressionism vibe, like Mondrian decided to loosen up and let his emotions seep into the geometry, maybe a bit like Agnes Martin? Anyway, for me, art is all about these conversations across time and how artists play with each other's ideas.