Who's Afraid of Red, Yellow, and Blue IV 1970

Barnett Newman made this painting with oil on canvas and a lot of bravado. Look how the large blocks of red and yellow vibrate against the stark, almost velvety, blue. I always find it fascinating to zoom in and notice the texture of the paint itself, the way it sits on the canvas. You can see these tiny imperfections and ridges, the subtle variations in color density. And each color plays a role. That dominant red screams, that yellow glows, and that blue tries to hold it all together. Newman was obsessed with scale and how it affects our perception, how it can be both intimate and monumental. It reminds me a little of Rothko's color fields, but with a much sharper edge. Art is never just about the finished product; it's about the journey, the struggle, and the conversation.