Dusk (Bands and End-Points) 2012

Jo Baer made this very large painting, *Dusk (Bands and End-Points)*, with oil on canvas. Look at the soft greys, the ochre, and these dark rock-like forms. Can you see how the painting feels both carefully planned, yet intuitively developed? I can imagine Baer in the studio, stepping back, considering, then moving in to make a mark, adding a thin glaze or a thick impasto. I feel like the process might have been about both control and chance, with some of the painting being built up in layers over time, while other sections remained open and undefined. I love how these dark, candle-like shapes on the right contrast with the stone-like forms on the left. There's a sense of balance and tension between the two sides, creating a push-and-pull effect. Baer had a really interesting approach, experimenting with minimalism and geometric abstraction. But in this piece, she’s moving towards something more representational, or maybe just suggestive – hinting at landscapes, ruins, or ritualistic objects. It reminds me of the ways artists like Agnes Martin and Georgia O’Keeffe were always in dialogue with each other, building on the language of painting and exploring new ways of seeing.