Bandbox (section) c. 1939

David Dorfman made this painting, "Bandbox (section)," with a flurry of brushstrokes that conjure a world both familiar and strange. The whole thing shimmers like a heat mirage. I can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the surface, coaxing the image into being. The pale blue background feels like a memory. Against this backdrop, figures emerge from the mix of light and shade, evoking mythical scenes of chariots led by winged beasts. What was Dorfman thinking as he built this scene from the ground up? Look closely, and you'll see how the paint is applied in layers. The texture adds another dimension to the work. It reminds me that painting isn't just about representation. It’s about the push and pull of materials. Artists throughout time have played with this push and pull, riffing off each other’s ideas. And it’s this creative conversation that keeps painting alive. It's an embodied expression that embraces ambiguity.