
Collection Online as of December 10, 2019
(American, 1912-2004)
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
Gift of Agnes Gund in memory of Wenda von Wiese 1991.30
© Agnes Martin / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
229B Contemporary
In this painting, Martin uses a measured system of horizontal and vertical blue lines to create a rectangular grid over a warm white, faintly modulated surface. Purified of all nonessential elements, the painting demonstrates Martin's use of a minimalist vocabulary combined with emotional expressionism. She enriched the grid with subtle variations of light and pattern, texture and touch. Within these limited compositional elements, Martin achieves a quiet, private poetry.