Untitled 1977

This "Untitled" painting, by Moshe Kupferman, is a real puzzle of painted lines on a muted, almost melancholy, field of color. The process here feels so important, like the painting is a record of its own making. Look how the paint is worked, thin in places, almost like a stain, and thicker elsewhere, building up a surface that feels both tentative and deliberate. That big diagonal shape, like a beam or a shadow, cuts across the space, held in place by those small, perpendicular strokes. It's so easy to imagine Kupferman making this, his hand moving back and forth, adding, subtracting, always searching. The color is not happy clappy! Kupferman reminds me a little of Agnes Martin, in the way he uses repetition and subtle variation to create a sense of quiet contemplation. Both artists share a fascination with the grid, and the way it can be used to explore the space between order and chaos. Ultimately, this painting is all about the journey, the act of searching, and the beauty that can be found in the process.