sinew 2015

Aaron Nagel made this painting, sinew, and I'm immediately drawn to the contrast between the luminous flesh tones and the shadowy, almost viscous black that seems to envelop the figure. I can imagine Nagel in the studio, layering thin glazes of paint, building up the form slowly, intuitively. What was he thinking as he rendered those hands in gold leaf, a gesture that elevates the mundane to the sacred? There is an intriguing tension here: the figure is both vulnerable and powerful, her gaze direct and unwavering, yet her body seems to dissolve into the darkness. The way the paint is applied, so smooth and controlled, reminds me of the Old Masters, but then there's this modern sensibility, a hint of unease that feels very contemporary. Maybe Nagel was thinking about the way we present ourselves to the world, the masks we wear, and the hidden depths beneath the surface. Whatever his intentions, this painting invites us to look closely, to feel deeply, and to embrace the mystery.