Grille-Color Branc II 1983

Jean Degottex made this subtly textured painting called, "Grille-Color Branc II," with what looks like diluted paint, maybe even applied and then wiped away. I love how the repeated diagonal lines create an all-over pattern that's both calming and a little disorienting. You can really see the physicality of the medium here. The thin paint allows the texture of the canvas to show through, and you can almost feel the delicate touch of the artist's hand. Notice how the lines vary in thickness and opacity, some fading in and out like whispers. That variation gives the piece a sense of rhythm, like a quiet song. It makes me think of Agnes Martin, who also used subtle lines and grids to create meditative spaces on canvas. Degottex’s work invites a slow, contemplative way of seeing. Rather than imposing a fixed image, he offers a field of possibilities.