Summertime in Italy 1960

Robert Motherwell created this large-scale painting, *Summertime in Italy*, using acrylic on paper. While painting is considered fine art, Motherwell’s process here feels closer to the swift, improvisational methods of graphic design. The impact of the painting relies on the behavior of the paint itself, flowing, pooling, and speckling across the paper surface. The tan and orange hues are earthy and warm. The sky blue, however, when set against the brown, does more than simply add contrast. There's an energy here. The marks aren't belabored or overworked; they’re confident and direct. There’s a simplicity to the making that echoes folk art, a sense of raw honesty. Ultimately, *Summertime in Italy* celebrates the inherent qualities of the materials and techniques used in its creation. By attending to these elements, we gain a deeper understanding of the artist's intention, and how he blurred the lines between art and craft.