Untitled 1973

This untitled painting by Luis Dourdil seems to be made with thin layers of earthy pigments and charcoal. I can almost imagine Dourdil leaning in close to the canvas, tentatively laying down washes of color, then stepping back, squinting, deciding what to adjust, and where to add a dark, decisive mark. It makes me think about a conversation between the artist and the painting. What do I see? I wonder if it's a landscape, or maybe an interior space. I like how the paint sort of floats on the surface, staining the canvas. It makes the whole thing feel immediate, like we’re catching a glimpse of the artist’s thoughts as they unfold. I imagine Dourdil was inspired by other painters but also figuring out his own way of painting and seeing. And now, here we are, continuing the conversation with him through his work. Each mark is an offering, a question, a possibility.