Horlignes 21 1969

Jean Degottex made "Horlignes 21" with what looks like diluted ink or very thin paint, creating these hazy layers that build up this luminous field. For me, this piece really highlights artmaking as a process of layering and revealing. I see how Degottex has subtly worked the surface, leaving this delicate texture, almost like mist on a windowpane. The thin, horizontal lines disrupt the blocks of greyscale wash and create a kind of horizon. The tonal shifts are so gentle; they pull you into this meditative state. It’s as if he's trying to capture a fleeting moment, an atmospheric condition, using the bare minimum of means. The top edge of the panel is frayed, there is a deliberate roughness. This work reminds me of Agnes Martin's quiet, grid-like paintings, where the slightest variation in line or tone becomes monumental. Both artists share an interest in the subtle power of reduction. Art’s not about answers, is it? It’s about creating space for questions.