Pond 8 1976

Warren Rohrer made Pond 8, we don’t know exactly when, with paint—probably oil—on canvas. I can imagine him patiently pulling the brush across the surface, again and again. It feels like the kind of painting where the making of it, the repetition, is the whole point. It reminds me of Agnes Martin, but earthy. You know, Martin was so into grids, but this one's different. More human somehow. It’s got this warm palette, these horizontal lines...I can feel the artist's hand, the drag of the brush. Each stroke is a little different. Maybe Rohrer was meditating or something, letting his mind wander as he built up the surface. It’s funny, isn't it? How a simple gesture, repeated, can become so complex. I bet Rohrer was inspired by other artists—we all are! It’s an ongoing conversation through time. He must have been searching for something beyond just a picture. More like trying to capture a feeling, or a mood.