Year: 1995
Medium: watercolor, graphite, ink on paper
Dimensions: image size: 22.9 x 22.9 cm (9 x 9 in.) / sheet size: 27.9 x 27.9 cm (11 x 11 in.)
Acquired from Phillips, 2022
Agnes Martin is known for her works of horizontal or grid lines which look vanishingly fragile on a specific-sized square canvas. This work is one of the many works on paper that Martin created throughout her lifetime. It consists of horizontal bands in white, red, and blue, and are repeated in a width ratio of 2:1:1. When viewed from a distance, it appears to be nothing more than a set of mechanical lines reminiscent of an industrial product However, upon closer inspection, one can see the fine fluctuation and roughness of handwork and notice that even the pale-colored surface has an unexpected expression of the painting. The watercolor spreading texture is one of the few elements that give a sense of the artist's presence within this immaculate composition. Later in life, Martin lived in Taos, New Mexico. Taos is in the wildland of a desert area, known for being O'Keeffe’s favorite place for her stay and artistic creations prior to Martin. It might have resonated with Martin's inner self, who once stated that her paintings are intangible abstract expressions like the sea does not bring any forms to mind. She was also familiar with Buddhism and Zen. This is a work that inspires a quiet contemplation as to what Martin was trying to search for behind the pale hues and impeccable lines.
