Echos from the Center of the World 2018

Jana Brike made this painting, Echos from the Center of the World, with oil paints. The way she builds up the flesh tones with layers and layers of brushstrokes is just amazing, isn't it? It's like she's sculpting the figures right on the canvas. I’m struck by the physical reality of the surface; Brike’s ability to render form with such soft gradations reminds me of the Pre-Raphaelites. It's all about that delicate balance between light and shadow. Look at the skin, and notice that she doesn't blend everything perfectly. She leaves these little dabs and strokes, and it's in those details that the painting really comes alive. It’s loose enough to be raw, but precise enough to be totally convincing. The birch trees that frame the couple feel like a nod to Symbolist painters like Klimt. Ultimately, with its dreamy quality and exploration of deep themes, this piece reminds us that art is really about opening up possibilities, not closing them down.