James Brooks

In 1947-48, James Brooks reached an artistic breakthrough when he realized the effect of glue on a painting, causing shapes to soak through to the reverse side of the canvas. The result was a rich body of work exploring the spontaneity of color, line, and shape. Chaco was painted during a period in Brooks’ career when he combined thin calligraphic lines and rich colors painted in broad brushstrokes to illuminate a delicate interplay between spontaneity and balance. Brooks commonly used non-descriptive titles to prevent influencing viewer’s interpretations of his art.

Title: Chaco
Date: 1965
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: 74.5 x 80.1 inches
Accession Number: P68.4.1
Location: North Concourse

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