Spiegel 2016

Rolf Ohst made this painting, called Spiegel, with oil on canvas, but when is anyone’s guess! There's a real push-pull between realism and something else here. The figure is rendered with a very smooth, polished technique, but there's something about the light that doesn't quite add up. It feels like we should be able to see the artist's hand more, but it's mostly concealed. Look how the light rakes across her right leg. It's almost theatrical, like a spotlight, and it accentuates the textures of the skin. Then there’s the curtain to the right, which is painted in this pale, watery green. It feels like a different painting altogether, more atmospheric and less defined. Maybe Ohst was thinking about the way artists like Lucian Freud used paint to capture the physical presence of the body, but with an added layer of theatricality or even irony. It reminds us that art isn't just about representing the world, but about constructing different ways of seeing and experiencing it. It’s definitely a conversation starter!