Jogger 1983

This is Duane Hanson’s ‘Jogger,’ and what’s fascinating is how Hanson plays with reality, making sculptures that are almost too real. Look at the texture of the skin, those little imperfections, the way he's captured the mundane details of everyday life. It’s as if he’s saying, “Hey, art can be about this too.” It’s not about gods or heroes, but about a guy who went for a run and maybe pulled a muscle. There’s something so vulnerable and exposed about it. And the color palette here, so muted, so real. It’s not trying to be flashy or grab your attention, it just is. The way one of his socks is already off, it’s a small, humble gesture. I can’t help but think of the painter, Lucian Freud, who also had this knack for capturing the raw, unflinching truth of the human form. Like Freud, Hanson reminds us that art doesn’t always have to be pretty; it can be honest, and sometimes, that’s even more beautiful.