By Eugênia Gorini Esmeraldo
In Composition in Yellow two wide yellow strips stand out against a white background, almost like two great brush strokes that are attracted to each other in the center only to separate later. There is a dense layer of paint thickening in contrast to the lighter zone. It is typical of the years when Tomie was using few elements, but used them accurately – both form and color – with background appearing in some rifts or openings defined by the colored areas. There is great gestuality and expressive force – but at the same time gentleness – in the composition that reminds us of the work of the American painter Helen Frankenthaler, although the work of Tomie is more controlled.

— Eugênia Gorini Esmeraldo, 1998

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