Untitled 

Art Historian: Welcome. The artwork before us is an untitled piece by Hannibal Alkhas. Though undated, it presents a fascinating assembly of portraits and figurative elements, all rendered in oil paint on canvas. Curator: My first impression is the rawness of the execution. You can really see the physicality of the paint—thick impasto in places, almost like the artist was sculpting with the oils. It feels immediate, unpolished. Art Historian: I agree, there is an arresting immediacy. Notice how Alkhas layers these distinct vignettes - figures look out and beyond, each layered upon the canvas - how do you think the artist invites such diverse modes of thought, if he does at all? Curator: Well, he's certainly pushing the limits of what oil paint can do here. The way he manipulates color, that stark juxtaposition of blues against the vibrant yellows and reds… it feels almost deliberately discordant, but there is order among such asymmetry... it draws attention to itself. Did Alkhas aim to work so roughly, knowing each viewer can see so much from his strokes? Art Historian: Alkhas, with these angular, emotive faces - it seems to suggest he seeks emotional, archetypal qualities instead. The placement of a few figures atop the group assembled in the lower left-hand section has narrative significance, don't you think? Especially above a what looks to be chess match in progress! The game can't possibly be the subject of such gravity. Curator: Maybe that very dynamic informs how seriously the match IS taken! More on the artist's intentions-- Alkhas had formal training in art, correct? The Fauvist influence here jumps out in the way color is liberated from purely representational purposes. Art Historian: Precisely. We see Fauvism echoed in that liberation of color you aptly recognize. The emotional intensity and boldness of color definitely align with that movement's core principles. Alkhas’ choices speak volumes about expressing inner states through visible form. There is power within, but for what use, I can't decide... Curator: Well, I can concede on the formal skill even though it still feels very rough. Regardless, Alkhas challenges viewers to reconcile such disparities. Art Historian: I'll remember the artist as capable of holding our attention through skillful choices, even through the test of time. Curator: Indeed, and one rooted deeply in the materiality of the piece itself.