Fave

Brice Marden named this diptych "Fave" because it was the artist’s favorite of the time. While it may appear reductive at first glance, Marden considers his paintings to be subjective, contemplative objects whose truths are disclosed slowly over time. “I believe these are highly emotional paintings not to be admired for any technical or intellectual reason, but to be felt,” Marden once proclaimed. UT Austin art historian Richard Shiff argues that the tension between stillness and movement in "Fave" stems from Marden’s careful observations of the Hudson River in New York, where the artist lives and works. "Fave" calls to mind the color shifts of water as it reflects atmospheric changes. Marden once described the sky above the sea as “blue, gray, yellow, sulphur, turquoise, yellow, blue,” indicating his ability to see multiple layers of color at once.