Darling II 2021

Curator: Aaron Nagel’s painting, “Darling II,” created in 2021, presents us with a striking contemporary portrait. What strikes you first? Editor: It’s the interplay of stark geometric shapes with the softness of the flesh tones. The darkness almost consumes her, yet she has this luminous quality. It's a peculiar effect achieved through a precise layering of, presumably, oil paint. Curator: The geometry creates a sense of isolation, doesn't it? It almost feels like the figure is emerging from some sort of void. I'm interested in Nagel's choice to depict the female figure this way, in the tradition of the Old Masters but within a very modern, almost stark, setting. How do you think the artist approaches material in this kind of work? Editor: The smooth application of the oils—likely many glazes—suggests a real control over the medium. Nagel isn't just slapping paint on; he's coaxing light from the surface through meticulous build-up. We need to consider the labour involved here, a focused, repetitive act leading to this precise image. There's craft involved. Curator: I see the control and how he balances historical painterly techniques with contemporary modes of figuration, but I think the real success of this work lies in the haunting ambiguity he establishes. The subject's gaze, her slight upward tilt of the chin… What stories are embedded within a gaze, and what stories are embedded within art history when approaching such work? Editor: Perhaps a story of vulnerability rendered with skilled labor? Curator: Indeed. “Darling II” gives us a new narrative about the representation of the human form and beauty. Editor: A thoughtful application of oil can be deceivingly compelling, can't it?