Spiegel 2016

Rolf Ohst’s large painting, “Spiegel”, shows a nude woman with a towel on her head in what looks like a bathroom or dressing room. I can imagine Ohst carefully working on the skin tones, building up the layers to create the light and shadow, the folds and curves of her figure. I wonder what he was thinking when he made this work, and what the model was thinking. I can imagine the woman posing, feeling exposed and vulnerable, but also maybe a little empowered by the act of being seen and celebrated. The drape to the right has a cool tone to contrast against the warmth of the woman's skin. The smooth surface of the curtain contrasts against the rougher surface of the skin. The pearl belt around her waist and the towel on her head bring to mind old master paintings of odalisques. Ohst brings this type of historical image into the present with a contemporary feel. Painters are always in dialogue with each other across time, and I think Ohst is tipping his hat to the artists who came before him, while also forging his own path. Ultimately, this painting is about seeing and being seen, and it invites us to think about how we look at ourselves and others.