Microchromie ZL, 70 Vert jade 1970

Fernand Leduc’s painting, Microchromie ZL, 70 Vert jade, is a single field of green, or rather, many greens. I imagine Leduc layering shade upon shade, almost like a Rothko, building up a surface of color which vibrates and breathes. Think of the physicality, the dragging of the brush, the way each layer interacts with the one beneath. There is an almost meditative quality to these monochrome works. It’s hard to make a single color painting! It demands a focus on the subtle shifts in hue and tone. What was Leduc thinking? Was he inspired by the natural world, forests, or perhaps the play of light on water? I am reminded of Yves Klein’s blue monochromes or even Agnes Martin's subtle grids. The history of painting is like one big conversation! Leduc offers a space for contemplation, a place where color becomes an environment, and we, as viewers, are invited to wander within it. We can each respond differently to the colour.