Untitled 1960

David Park made this watercolor painting around 1960, using loose strokes of pigment on paper. The nature of watercolor lends itself to spontaneity. The way the paint bleeds and blends becomes part of the final image. You can see how Park embraced this quality, allowing the colors to mix and flow freely. It's interesting to think about this choice of medium in relation to Park's broader artistic journey. He had previously worked in a more abstract style, but later in his career, he turned to figuration. Watercolor perfectly suited this shift. It allowed for quick studies and capturing immediate impressions. Think of it as a tool for rediscovering the world around him, a way to make visible the beauty in everyday scenes, like the three men depicted here, caught in a fleeting moment. This painting reminds us that art doesn't always require grand gestures; sometimes, the most profound statements are made with simple materials.