Drifting 2006

Odd Nerdrum created "Drifting" with oil paint on canvas at an unknown date, and boy, does it ever have a distinctive palette! It's full of hazy browns, creamy whites, and a touch of ethereal pink—like a dream fading at the edges. I can only imagine Nerdrum in his studio, brush in hand, coaxing these figures into being. The way he models the light gives the figures a solid, almost sculptural quality, which is something many figurative painters try to achieve. Look at how the paint is applied! The thick impasto and visible brushstrokes add such depth and texture, making the figures seem almost palpable. But these aren't just any figures; they’re like ghostly apparitions floating in a void. Are they dreaming, dying, or maybe just existing in some weird alternate reality? Nerdrum's work can be challenging. He's not afraid to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty, which is what makes his paintings so compelling. You can see connections to artists like Caravaggio and Rembrandt, but Nerdrum’s definitely got his own thing going on. The act of painting is like an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time and artists, with each inspiring one another’s creativity.