Untitled 1954

This untitled painting was made by Claude Georges, probably in the mid-20th century, with a fierce energy. The colors are dark and earthy, punctuated by these jolts of red and white – it’s like a storm brewing, or maybe something exploding from within. Looking closely, you can see how Georges layers the paint, scraping and building up the surface to create a real tactile experience. There's one particular red line, snaking its way around the left side of the canvas, that I can't stop looking at. It's loose and kind of clumsy, but it gives the whole painting a sense of urgency, as though the artist is pushing against the constraints of the medium. It reminds me a bit of Cy Twombly, in the way that it embraces messiness and chance. Art isn't about perfection. It’s about discovery.