Ad Reinhardt's BLUE PAINTINGS at David Swirner Gallery

Ad Reinhardt (b Amer 1913-1967) is a painter who embraced minimalism or as he would put it "purity."  "The first rule and absolute standard of fine art, and painting which is the highest and freest art, is the purity of it.  The more uses, relations and additions a painting the less pure it is.  The more stuff in it, the busier the work of art, the worse it is.  More or less."  (AD) Other artists who cull from this philosophy might be Agnes Martin, Brice Marsden and Mondrian.  The exhibit of BLUE PAINTINGS at the David Swirner Gallery in Chelsea contains many of Reinhardt's paintings that were first shown at the Stable Gallery between 1950-1953.  In addition, there are several paintings outside this epoch and several paintings from private collections that have never been exhibited.  The plethora of these paintings is cause for celebration.  The expansive collection however, appears deceptively monochromatic and flat.  The saturation of his paintings render, upon closer reflection, tonal differentiation.  The paintings geometrical shapes begin to oscillate and there appears optical illusions of colors moving forwards & then receding.  Less is more is oftentimes a sagacious approach.  The collection in its entirety offers a splendid means to contrast, compare & concentrate on Reinhardt's artistic techniques and intentions.  Seen together the paintings are absorbing.  As individual works, I find they lean towards boring.