Habeas Corpus 2006

Bo Bartlett made this disquieting painting, Habeas Corpus, with oils, though when it was made exactly is unclear. The palette is muted, like a faded photograph, and the forms are rendered with a smooth, almost eerie realism. You can imagine his process involved layering thin glazes of paint, building up these unsettling scenes. The surface is incredibly smooth, almost like glass, obscuring any trace of the artist's hand. It's hard to tell what kind of brushes he used, which adds to the feeling of alienation. Take a look at the way he's rendered the figures' faces, like masks of tragedy. It's a painting that makes you uncomfortable, and that's probably the point. The tonal range is so narrow that the skin tones render almost photographic. Bartlett seems to be referencing artists like Edward Hopper, or maybe even some of the Old Masters. It’s a scene that invites you to bring your own interpretation, and that ambiguity is one of its strengths.