Suzanne Hudson's Study on Agnes Martin's 'Night Sea' Published by Afterall

Afterall Books has released a new volume in its One Work series focusing on Agnes Martin's 1963 painting 'Night Sea.' Written by Suzanne Hudson, the illustrated study examines the large canvas of hand-drawn rectangular grids in luminous blue and gold. Hudson argues that 'Night Sea' represents Martin's transition from visible labor to lightness unburdened by evidence of process, creating a shimmering realization of control and loss. The book presents Martin as an artist, thinker, poet, and writer for whom self-presentation was essential. Douglas Crimp praised the work in 2017, noting that it illuminates Martin's entire oeuvre through analysis of a single painting. The publication is available for purchase via MIT Press and preview on Google Books.