Untitled 1967

This untitled work was made by Eva Hesse using ink on graph paper. Hesse’s drawing is such a beautiful illustration of how a simple, repetitive mark can transform into something complex and emotionally engaging. Just look at how she fills the grid with these tiny circles! There's a kind of obsessive quality, but not in a negative way. It's meditative, almost like counting or breathing. The precision and the imperfections create a beautiful tension. The graphite of the circles against the blue grid—it's like a conversation between order and chaos, control and surrender. It reminds me of Agnes Martin's grids. But Hesse always brings this vulnerability and playfulness to her work. It feels both rigid and soft at the same time, which is a pretty neat trick if you ask me.