The Artist's Wife 1949

Alexander Bogen made this painting of his wife with oils, but when exactly, we don’t know. There’s a beautiful dance happening between the red and green shades he’s using. It feels like he’s feeling his way through the colors, letting them lead him. Look at how the paint sits on the canvas – not too thick, not too thin, but just right. You can almost feel the give-and-take of brush against surface. It’s most noticeable in the red of the background and the way the green is built up around her hands. The texture isn’t hidden, but celebrated. It gives the work a liveliness, a sense of the artist’s hand at play. The paint is worked into these gentle, almost blurred shapes, which, for me, speaks to the way that Bogen may have seen his wife, through gentle eyes. Bogen reminds me a little of Vuillard, especially in the intimate feel of the portrait and the way he uses color to create a mood. I love how both artists show us that art isn't about nailing down one right answer, it’s about keeping the conversation open, alive, and full of feeling.