JMD-3 1962

John McLaughlin made JMD-3 with black paint on what looks like paper, maybe as part of a wider study. The approach seems to be about distilling form to its barest essentials. It reminds me of Sol Lewitt, another artist interested in reduction. The black paint is laid down in flat, opaque rectangles, creating a stark contrast against the white background. You can almost see the hand in the making, the careful but deliberate placement of each geometric shape. Look closely, and you’ll notice the small imperfections, the slight variations in the edges of the rectangles. This injects a sense of physicality. McLaughlin invites us to consider how simple forms can evoke complex emotions and ideas. Art isn’t about definitive answers, it’s about posing questions and embracing the ambiguity of visual experience.