Composition 1961

This untitled composition by Tihamer Gyarmathy is made up of gestural marks in a palette of greens, blacks, and earth tones. It feels like a painting that came into being slowly, maybe shifting and emerging through trial, error, and intuition. I sympathize with the artist. I wonder what it might have been like to create this. What were they thinking when they made it? The paint looks thin, almost watery, emphasizing the surface of the material. It’s interesting how these elements shape our experience and contribute to the emotional and intellectual feeling of the work. Look at that one gesture where the brushstroke seems to stutter and break apart. It's easy to imagine that it communicates a feeling, intention, or meaning. This piece really chimes with the work of other painters who are invested in pattern and repetition. You can see how artists are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. I love the way painting allows for so many different interpretations.