Francis Patrick Garvan 1921

Philip Alexius de László made this portrait of Francis Patrick Garvan using oil on canvas. There’s a lot to admire here. The loose brushstrokes build up a sense of form, with the palest shades suggesting volume on Garvan’s face. It’s clear the artist worked quickly, without fussing over details. It's kind of like, the making of the image is part of the image itself, you know? And have you noticed how Garvan’s left hand seems to hover in front of his body, like a ghostly presence? It’s moments like this that catch my eye. It's as if de László is reminding us that painting is just an illusion, a trick of light and shadow. I’m reminded a little of John Singer Sargent, with this painting, another artist who captured the fleeting qualities of the human form. It's all about that sense of spontaneity, of capturing a moment in time. For me, that's what painting is all about.