Untitled (Stoffbild) 1969

Blinky Palermo made this painting, Untitled (Stoffbild), with dye on cloth. Here we have two blocks of color—one a deep, contemplative blue, the other a brighter, marine turquoise. I imagine Palermo considering, then soaking, the fabric in these pools of color. What was he thinking as the dye seeped into the material, blurring the edges ever so slightly? The surface feels smooth, almost like looking at a Rothko, but with a crispness that's all Palermo. He's in conversation with the Minimalists, but also thinking about color theory, about Mondrian, maybe even Malevich. It's as if he’s asking, how little can I do and still make it sing? There’s a quiet confidence here. It reminds us that art-making is not always about adding more, but refining and distilling. It’s like a painter's haiku—simple, resonant, and deeply felt.