Profiles of a Man and Woman 1983

Patrick Nagel made this painting, *Profiles of a Man and Woman*, with, it seems, an airbrush, although you can't be entirely sure. It's a bit of a mystery. The application of pigment looks so incredibly smooth. The colour palette is simple: blacks, whites, and pale blues, which when mixed together, create a smooth, clean surface. The work really plays with line and form in an interesting way. Look at the woman's hair. The dark block contrasts with the plainness of the rest of the piece, drawing your eye to the woman. Nagel has chosen to give detail to this aspect of the piece, but leave the rest of the image incredibly paired back. Nagel had something of an advertising style, not a million miles from Alex Katz, and these portraits could easily have been used for a perfume or cigarette ad. Whatever you think of that, the works are strangely compelling, and well worth a look.