The Robe Following Her (4) 1985

Jim Dine, sometime after 1935, made "The Robe Following Her (4)" with paint, and it looks like he had fun doing it! It's not about perfection but about the feel of the thing. Look at the way the colors aren't blended perfectly, how the brushstrokes are visible and energetic, and notice how the red turns into a little brick pattern on the one sleeve. It makes me think about how clothes are like a second skin. The colors are bold and kind of clash-y in a good way, like a kid dressing up. I love how the pink belt cinches the middle, a soft touch amidst all the other craziness, like a gentle hug. Dine’s use of everyday objects reminds me a bit of early Jasper Johns, and his loose, gestural painting style connects to artists like Joan Mitchell, but really, Dine has his own vibe. It’s an ongoing conversation, this art thing, where everyone’s riffing off each other, adding their own spin. Ultimately, art is not about answers, it's more about the questions.