Abstract Euphony 1958

Hans Hofmann created this abstract painting sometime in the mid-20th century, with what looks like a pretty direct approach. The colors are laid down in these rectangles, bumping up against each other, but it's not just a flat surface. You can see how he's working the paint, pushing it around, like in that vivid red square near the top, where the color seems to vibrate. The paint isn’t trying to hide itself; it's thick in some spots and thin in others, letting the green underneath peek through. He’s not precious with the medium, and that’s what's exciting! There's a great conversation happening with someone like, say, Joan Mitchell, but Hofmann keeps the shapes more defined. He is interested in how shapes and colors act on each other, how they can almost push each other around. It’s like a jazzy, colorful argument, and that’s what makes it sing.