Agnes Martin's exploration of grid formats began to take shape in the late 1950s and early 1960s, marking a significant transition in her artistic approach. "The Laws" (1958), one of her early forays into the grid structure, utilized boat spikes nailed into wood, presenting a rudimentary grid that hints at her future direction. This piece reflects her initial experiments with grids, showing her move away from more expressive forms towards a controlled, geometric order that would define her later works (Art Canada Institute).

During this early grid phase, Martin also created "White Flower" (1960), which was showcased in her 1961 exhibition at Betty Parsons Gallery. This work features a dark background overlaid with a white grid creating numerous rectangles, incorporating non-grid elements like dashes and dots that add a subtle complexity to the composition. This period was crucial for Martin in refining her grid approach, moving gradually towards a more defined grid structure by eliminating the earlier decorative elements by 1964 (Art Canada Institute).