Sleeping Couple 1991

Odd Nerdrum made this painting, called Sleeping Couple, and well, you can see what it’s about: two people, pale as death, reclining under a big brooding landscape. I imagine the studio, Nerdrum wrestling with those fleshy tones, trying to get that perfect balance between light and shadow. You can see the influence of the old masters, like Rembrandt, in the way he builds up the layers of paint, creating a sense of depth and texture. It's pretty painterly. But it’s also totally Odd Nerdrum. There's a darkness here, an existential dread that I kinda relate to. I feel the same way when I’m in my studio! Painting feels like a conversation with artists from the past, like you’re reaching across time and space to connect with other humans. And it's also an invitation to be in dialogue with yourself. It can get pretty confusing, but there's a weird beauty in it too.