Untitled

In Agnes Martin's watercolour Untitled, pairs of thin, faintly red horizontal lines are accented by thicker pale blue brushstrokes. Each component is spaced at a regular interval and floats in the picture plane. The lines' journey across the plane also varies in hue, value and intensity. The lines' beginnings and ends do not perfectly match up. Irregularities in Martin's work balance what would otherwise be strict or harsh geometric elements. Furthermore, they help create a quiet tension. Martin's pieces are commonly associated with Minimalism because of the reduction of shape and line to simple geometric forms. Although Martin based much of her work on grids, she also made several compositions using only horizontal lines. Martin employs symmetry and economy of form to evoke spiritual or higher realities.