For Carl Andre is a tribute to Marden’s friend, the Minimalist artist Carl Andre. Andre made sculptures using metal plates that sit directly on the floor and can be stepped on, as pictured in the photograph below. In this “portrait” of the artist, Marden’s metallic gray square refers to his friend’s sculptures instead of his physical appearance.

While some artists use paint to create the illusion of an object, Marden uses the medium to remind viewers that they are already looking at an object: a painted canvas. Unlike other abstract artists, such as Helen Frankenthaler, whose work is featured nearby, Marden avoids all identifiable and expressive marks, ensuring that the surface remains the only subject of the painting. In this way, his painting is an homage to Andre’s work, rather than a realistic portrait.