Untitled: Circus c. 1953

John Marin made this "Untitled: Circus" probably sometime in the first half of the 20th century, using loose brushstrokes of blue, gray, and pink oil paint. I can almost feel Marin’s presence here. I imagine him, brush in hand, trying to capture the feeling of the circus - maybe the noise or the acrobatics - and giving up on trying to represent any one thing specifically. Instead, he lets the paint do its thing and follows the brush. I see how some strokes are tentative, and others more confident. Look at how the pinks and browns at the centre seem to jostle for space among the cooler blues. It reminds me a little of other American artists like Marsden Hartley, but with a touch more… looseness. And that diagonal slash of gray at the top left. Is it a trapeze artist? Is it just a slash? Who knows! Ultimately, painting is about not being afraid to experiment, to make a mess, and see what emerges. Artists are constantly learning from one another, building on the past, and pushing the boundaries of what painting can be.