Study of Poussin

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on December 5, 2014 at 7:50pm

Curator’s Comments: 

 

This large scale Study of Poussin is a vibrant, energized rendition of the French Baroque Master, keeping with the compositional cadence.  I like the compartmentalization of the multi-hued diamonds, which suggest a more contemporary or folk textile. Darker areas of open line work meeting the edges of the subjects towards the center of the work create more complex rhythms and hierarchy of pictorial space. The flattening of the figures and reduction of form to graphic components is an interesting idea.  It makes one reconsider their visual vocabulary, and understanding of local color.  The pixilation is not completely unlike digital representation, although this manipulation appears much more purposely designed rather than filtered. The oil medium no doubt adds a hand worked quality to the image as object, as the piece is viewed on a dimensional canvas. The similarly handled pieces with just one central figure are easier to decipher in terms of the figure-ground relationship, and so for me they’re less engaging. However, the Self Portrait is an exception, as the larger pieces create more distortion and abstraction, adding a layer of mystery to the piece.  It’s almost as if viewing a portrait and textile design simultaneously; though on the surface neither appears to share form.  I’m very intrigued by the sophistication in melding these blocky geometric segments with an organic head.