The Grandmother 1989

Morteza Katouzian painted this portrait of the Grandmother, with what appears to be oil on canvas. Just look at that gorgeous ochre color, almost like faded sepia photographs, like a memory being recalled. There’s a feeling of something both present and distant in the way Katouzian handles the paint. It's thin, but there's something about the way he builds up the tones that gives it a very modern feel; the shadows almost feel like a bruise. But then, the soft realism in the face brings you right back to the classical techniques of portraiture. See how the face is illuminated, bringing her into sharp focus, while the rest of the painting seems to fade into the background. It’s like she’s emerging from the past, or maybe sinking back into it. The Grandmother seems like she’s in conversation with Whistler’s Mother, sharing stories of the past, and reminding us that art is always in dialogue, always echoing and transforming what came before.