Brice Marden's art in the 1990s is emblematic of a pivotal shift in his career, marked by a deepening exploration into abstraction, color, and form, influenced significantly by his interactions with Eastern aesthetics and philosophy. During this period, Marden's work evolved from the monochromatic and minimalist tendencies of his early career to embrace a more expressive and gestural approach, heavily inspired by his travels in Asia and his study of Eastern art forms, particularly Chinese calligraphy. This evolution is evident in his Cold Mountain series, which became a hallmark of his work during the late 1980s and 1990s. The Cold Mountain series, inspired by the poetry of the Tang dynasty Chinese poet Han Shan, is notable for its calligraphic lines and swirling forms, evoking the spiritual quest and rugged terrain of the poet's hermitic life. These paintings mark a significant departure from Marden's earlier minimalist work, employing a more dynamic and organic approach to line and composition. The series showcases Marden's interest in the intersection of art and spirituality, the physical process of painting, and the translation of poetry and landscape into visual form. Throughout the 1990s, Marden continued to explore the possibilities of color and light, drawing inspiration from his surroundings and travels. His work during this period is characterized by a luminous color palette, often inspired by the intense light of the Greek islands where he spent considerable time. Paintings such as "Summer Table" reflect Marden's ongoing fascination with the effects of light, as well as his engagement with historical and religious art forms, such as the triptych. This painting, for instance, employs a horizontal, three-panel layout that consciously references the triptych form, using color and division of space to create a dialogue with older methods of painting. Marden's technique during this period involved the use of encaustic (a medium that suspends pigment in oil and beeswax), giving his surfaces a lustrous and ethereal quality. This choice of medium, along with his nuanced juxtapositions of tone, contributed to the subtlety and depth of his work, allowing him to explore the boundaries of abstraction while maintaining a connection to the natural world and the materiality of the painting process. The 1990s also saw Marden experimenting with different formats and scales, from monumental canvases to intricate drawings and prints, each reflecting his diverse influences and his continued interest in the physical act of painting. His work from this period demonstrates a balance between contemplation and expression, combining meticulous attention to detail with a spontaneous, energetic approach to line and form. Brice Marden's art from the 1990s represents a rich and complex period of his career, marked by a profound engagement with Eastern philosophy, a deepening of his explorations into color and light, and a continual push against the boundaries of minimalist abstraction. His work from this period is both a reflection of his personal artistic journey and a significant contribution to the broader landscape of contemporary art​ (The Art Story)​​ (Encyclopedia Britannica)​.