Untitled 1957

Andre Lanskoy made this untitled painting with oils and a whole lotta heart, probably sometime mid-century. The brushwork here is like a conversation, the marks laid down kind of hastily, in these thick, choppy strokes. Everything's so physical and immediate – the paint stands up off the surface, like little sculptures. Look closely, you can see the direction the brush was moving, the energy of his hand. Notice the colour palette of reds, purples and whites and how these blocks of colour create balance and tension. Take the red line slashing diagonally across the upper left for instance, like a dare, or a wild idea that just won't quit. It pulls the whole composition together, gives it that little kick of chaos that makes you sit up and pay attention. You know, this feels like an earlier Joan Mitchell, where the emotion is all wrapped up in the gesture. It’s not about answers; it’s about the joy of asking questions.