Still Point 2006

Bo Bartlett painted "Still Point" using oil on linen. Bartlett came of age during a period of intense cultural shifts in the United States, grappling with issues of identity, sexuality, and gender roles. The female figure reclines, offering a direct gaze that challenges traditional objectification. The title, "Still Point," hints at a moment of introspection or equilibrium amidst the chaos. The woman's gaze, simultaneously vulnerable and assertive, breaks with conventional representations. The artist has said that his intent is to depict figures with the integrity and complexities that challenge and break apart stereotypes. Bartlett disrupts the male gaze, offering a space for nuanced readings of female identity. "Still Point" invites us to contemplate the interplay between observation, representation, and the subjective experience of being seen.