Dissonance 2018

Aaron Nagel created "Dissonance" in 2018, with what looks like oil on canvas. The first thing I notice is the kind of muted intensity in the color palette. It's like he's working with a very limited range, but pushing it to its maximum potential. I think this resonates with anyone who has ever worked with oil, where the feel of the paint itself can become so much a part of the process. Looking closely, you can see how Nagel builds up the surface with layers of thin, transparent glazes. Especially around the eyes and cheekbones, there's this incredible depth and luminosity. It’s almost sculptural, like he’s carving the form out of light and shadow. The paint handling is so controlled, so deliberate, that it's hard to imagine any accidents or spontaneous gestures. I am reminded of Lucian Freud's portraits, in the sense that Nagel achieves a kind of psychological intensity, all while suggesting that the meaning is always a little out of reach.