Erg Series 1977

Alexander Liberman made his "Erg Series" paintings with oil paint, that most luscious and tactile of artist's materials. Notice how he has applied it in thick impasto layers, with broad, energetic strokes of color. This technique invites us to consider the artist's physical engagement with the canvas, a kind of dance between control and chance. Liberman used brushes, knives, and maybe even his own hands, directly manipulating the paint to create texture and depth. The process is almost sculptural, building up the surface to reflect light and shadow. The social context of abstract expressionism is important here. After World War II, painting became a symbol of individual freedom, a direct expression of the artist's inner world. But it also involved a lot of labor, physically and mentally. So, next time you look at a painting, don't just see the image—feel the process!