Tableau Relief P. 517 1968

Gottfried Honegger made this painting, Tableau Relief P. 517, and the way he handles the paint really shows his process. There’s a lovely contrast between the textures and colours. On the one hand there's the stark white section of the piece and on the other, the deep blue triangle. Look closely at the blue, you can see faint grid lines, almost like tiles or a basket weave. These marks remind us that painting isn't just about slapping colour onto a surface, it’s a process of building something, layer by layer. Now, check out the top right corner of the blue section. See how the blue paint is thick and almost rough in places? That's the physicality of the paint coming through. It makes you want to reach out and touch it, feel the texture under your fingers. This interplay of simple forms and the way Honegger coaxes the most out of colour reminds me of another painter I admire, Ellsworth Kelly, both artists teach us that less really can be more. Painting is an ongoing conversation across time.