Susie Berns Aka. Susan Wolf 1971

This is Abdul Mati Klarwein's "Susie Berns Aka. Susan Wolf," and it looks like it came into being through layers of luminous oil paint. I bet Abdul felt like he was conjuring something, an image that already existed somewhere between worlds. Look at how Susie's wild, curly hair cascades down, framing this idyllic scene like a curtain. The paint isn't thick or gloppy; it's smooth and luminous, and builds up a world both present and dreamlike. One hand is shaded a deep reddish pink while the other is a pale, celestial blue. Maybe he was thinking about Botticelli, about goddesses emerging from the sea, but with a twist. This is definitely a conversation with art history, a remix of old ideas into something entirely his own. He's showing us that painting isn't just about representation, it's about feeling and being.