Untitled 1953

José Pedro Costigliolo made this untitled painting in 1953 using what looks like enamel on canvas. The shapes here are so direct and clearly defined, as if each color was carefully considered and placed with unwavering precision. The surface has a kind of flatness that almost denies the hand, but when you look closer, you can see subtle variations in the paint's texture, especially in the way the colors meet. There’s a creamy, almost bone-like white shape that winds through the composition, connecting the darker elements. I wonder if that shape was laid down first, and the other colors responded to it? It reminds me of the way a calligrapher might let the ink bleed into the paper, creating unexpected forms. This piece makes me think of Josef Albers' "Homage to the Square" paintings, but with a playful twist. Instead of the cool calculation of Albers, Costigliolo seems to be embracing the unpredictable nature of the medium. It's a reminder that art is not about answers, but about the questions we ask along the way.