Self-Portrait 1994

This is a self-portrait by Theophilus Brown, and the date looks like '94. The painting’s built from strong angular marks and a limited palette. The painting has a very personal feel to it. The surface is built up with layers, and you can see the history of the painting being made. The paint looks pretty thin, allowing earlier layers to peek through, adding to the sense of depth and time. Look at how the light catches the planes of the face; the way the paint is applied almost sculpts the features. The stark contrast between light and shadow gives the face a slightly mask-like quality. It reminds me a little of some of Fairfield Porter's portraits, although Porter's handling of light is softer. Brown's work is a great reminder that art isn't about perfect representation, it's about finding new ways of seeing.