La Perla 2019

Roberto Ferri's La Perla is made with oil paint, a traditional fine art medium that demands a slow, considered approach. Here, the artist engages with the Old Masters, invoking both their techniques and their attitudes. The rendering of flesh, the dramatic chiaroscuro lighting, all speak to a highly refined sensibility. Ferri has spent countless hours honing his craft, working to bring forth a convincing, three-dimensional form from a flat surface. Yet, the choice of subject also resonates with contemporary culture. The classical nude, as represented here, is far from simple innocence. This image reminds us that even the most seemingly straightforward images are laden with social and political complexity. The amount of labor in the production process, the material and its capacity for illusion are all important to consider. Ultimately, La Perla challenges our assumptions about the divide between craft and fine art. The artist's careful handling of material forces us to contemplate the values embedded in its making.