Lauren Henkin reviews Alex Katz: Small Paintings 1987-2013 at Peter Blum Gallery, New York, on view through November 2, 2013.

Henkin writes that "the chance to view works from this celebrated artist in the up-close—small, intimate and unexpected paintings that for me, bring fresh life to my understanding of his work. In the show of twenty-five paintings, none larger than 12×16 inches, you can approach the paintings more casually, with a feeling of ease—with the sense that these are sketches for larger works. There is less to recognize. There is less formality. There is less area to navigate. The less here feels more."