Partisans 1984

Alexander Bogen made this painting of partisans, sometime in the 20th century, using oil on canvas. The way Bogen builds up these figures with such broad, directional strokes gives you the feeling that he’s not just painting a picture, but constructing a moment. I love how the palette is mostly muted – blacks, whites, ochres, blues – but then there are these small flicks of vibrant reds that catch your eye. Look at the figure holding the gun. The way Bogen has used a dry brush, dragging the paint across the surface, it’s almost like he’s scraping away at the image. This technique adds a layer of rawness to the work. It reminds me of some of the paintings of Philip Guston. There’s a similar kind of directness and honesty in both their approaches. Art is always an ongoing conversation, across time, a sort of call and response, don't you think?