Petal 1964

Agnes Martin made this piece, called Petal, using gesso and graphite on canvas. It's an abstract work from an artist who came of age during the height of American abstract expressionism. Yet her work is a far cry from the machismo and angst that characterized much of that movement. Martin’s understated geometries invite meditation and quiet contemplation. Made in the USA, we might think about it in the context of the minimalist movement, with its reduced forms and industrial materials. But Agnes Martin rejected this association, preferring to emphasize the emotional and spiritual content of her work. The grid, here, can be seen as an egalitarian space, an all-over composition that refuses hierarchy and celebrates the beauty of simple forms. As historians, we look to period writings, exhibition reviews, and artists’ statements to understand the place of artworks within a broader social and institutional context. Agnes Martin’s subtle art invites us to slow down and reconsider the value of simplicity and restraint.