Untitled

"My paintings have neither object nor space nor line nor anything-no forms. They are light, lightness, about merging, about formlessness, breaking down form A world without objects, without interruption, making a work without interruption or obstacle. It is to accept the necessity of the simple, going into a field of vision as you would cross an empty beach to look at the ocean" (A. Martin, quoted in D. Schwarz (ed.), Agnes Martin Writings, Winterthur, 1992, p. 7).

The serene beauty of Agnes Martin's artistic practice is the physical manifestation of her spiritual views about life and the nature of art. In this work, the enticing combination of broad stripes, narrower passages of almost imperceptible color and gossamer thin graphite lines stands as a testament to her skill of being able to visualize silence alongside her unique ability to convey the power of her ideas without the blatant use of imagery. Her work softens the unforgiving lines that dominated the ascent of Minimalism and introduces a discernible quality of infinite delicacy and tranquility. This sense of stillness is the central pillar in Martin's work; her paintings are meant not merely to be looked at, but also experienced. The intricacies of both the composition and its execution combine to form a work of extreme subtly; a work that expresses its supremacy by whispering its qualities rather than shouting them.