Horse V 2013

James Jean made this painting, Horse V, using a technique that seems to marry illustration with fine art. The controlled lines and muted color palette create a dream-like atmosphere. It’s as if the image is emerging from a subconscious place, or maybe a hallucination. Look at the way Jean applies paint to build the form of the horse and rider. The surface is incredibly smooth, concealing the artist’s process, yet there’s something surreal about how the anatomy seems to melt and morph. I'm drawn to the horse's eye—it's such a tiny detail, but it anchors the whole painting. The eye is knowing and a little menacing, hinting at a world beyond the surface. This combination of control and fluidity makes me think of artists like Odilon Redon, who explored similar dreamscapes but with a very different, more atmospheric approach. Jean is part of an ongoing conversation about how we construct realities through art.