Woman 1985

Otto Muehl made this gouache painting of a woman, sometime in the mid-twentieth century. The energy in it comes, I think, from Muehl not trying to be too careful. The colours are laid down in big, bold swathes, wet on wet, especially the red. I love the way this red almost bleeds into the paper, like the painting is one big, beautiful stain. It’s really interesting how he’s used this colour in such a varied way - now strong and confident, now almost delicate. Take a look at the eyes of the figure. There’s something knowing in the simplicity of them. Muehl’s work reminds me a little of Guston’s, in the way they both allow this sense of play and improvisation to determine the final image. It’s like they’re showing us the joy of painting, the openness of the process. And ultimately, isn’t that what art is all about?