Untitled 1975

This untitled print by Sean Scully, in the collection here, is made of these umber blocks, organized like a brick wall or a kind of woven pattern. It's a really satisfying image, and it gets at the way that repetition can be both calming and kind of visually stimulating. Scully's got a knack for making the most out of a limited palette, and here the earthy tones give the whole thing a warm, inviting feel. It’s just two colors, but the subtle variations create a sense of depth. Look closely, and you can almost feel the texture, even though it’s just a print. What I love about Scully is his commitment to process, and the way he builds up these layers of color and form to create something that’s both simple and complex. It reminds me a little bit of Agnes Martin’s grids, but with a bit more swagger. It's about seeing the world in a new way, one block at a time.