Relief 1973

Johannes Jan Schoonhoven made this ‘Relief’ with paint, though it’s hard to know exactly when. It’s a field of white rectangles set in a grid formation, a kind of meditation on form and light. Up close, the surface reveals so much more than just white. It’s a geography of subtle variations, shadows, and textures. The paint seems thick, almost sculptural, catching the light in different ways, creating a play of depth and dimension. There's something almost architectural about the individual rectangles, like tiny rooms or windows, each holding its own quiet space. This focus on seriality and subtle variation, the kind of thing you also see in the work of Agnes Martin, is not about perfection, but about the beauty of the handmade. Each rectangle is slightly different, with its own unique character, and it’s in these imperfections that the work comes alive. It’s a reminder that art is not about flawless execution, but about the process of discovery and the embrace of the unexpected.