Born in Grandin, North Dakota, in 1904, the artist Clyfford Still was among the first generation of Abstract Expressionists who, using emotive brushstrokes on large canvases, established a bold, evocative approach to painting in the years following World War II. Perhaps the movement’s most enigmatic practitioner, Still followed a rigorous methodology to produce potent paintings that convey a profound sense of energy and quiet strength. Unlike most of his peers, who bought paint from art-supply stores, Still typically mixed his paints by hand, grinding pigments and blending them with linseed oil. He believed that an artist’s work was best understood when viewed collectively—preferably in its entirety—and that, taken together, each piece told a story that was greater than the sum of its parts. (Still held on to nearly all of his output during his lifetime to prevent it from falling into the hands of someone who might not appreciate it, and rarely allowed his paintings to travel.)