Self Portrait 2009

Alexander Roitburd painted this self-portrait, we're not sure when, but it feels like a revelation in oil. The way the paint is applied, thick and almost curdled, especially on that ochre couch, gives the scene a kind of restless energy, even though the figure is prone and asleep. You can feel the physical labor, like the artist's wrestling with his own image. The color is what grabs me; this yellow-ochre that's almost acidic, set against a dark, bruised purple in the background. It's emotionally jarring, a kind of melancholic disco. Look at how he renders his face. It's a mess of strokes, right? But it gives you a sense of vulnerability, like he's laid bare not just his body but his whole psyche. I'm reminded a little of Philip Guston, the way he used figuration to get at these raw, emotional truths. Ultimately, Roitburd's painting reminds us that art is a conversation, a way of seeing and feeling that keeps evolving through time.