Squeaky’s Beads 1992

Editor: This is "Squeaky’s Beads," a 1992 oil painting by Nelson Shanks. The mood strikes me as intensely still and self-possessed. The dark backdrop really makes the subject's fair skin and the stark black beads pop. How do you interpret this work, especially the title? Curator: Well, "Squeaky's Beads"... that's what gets me going! It hints at an intimacy, doesn't it? We are being let in on something almost secretive with that possessive "Squeaky's." What do the beads *mean* to her? What is her relationship with the painter, and perhaps with us? Are we voyeurs? I also find myself wondering, what's she *really* thinking, underneath that poised, almost cool expression? Do you sense that reserve, too? Editor: Yes, definitely a sense of reserve. The averted gaze adds to that. There is a formality here, but also vulnerability in her semi-nudity and direct presentation. The title feels somewhat casual, and slightly at odds with the formal presentation. Curator: Precisely! It's that very tension, that little ripple of dissonance, that makes it compelling. It invites me to weave stories around her. Think of her in the artist's studio. What secrets is she keeping, eh? What I'm left with is a portrait that begs more questions than it answers, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. The quiet tension between the informal title and the subject's formal depiction makes you really contemplate her inner world, or what the painter imagined it to be. Thanks so much! Curator: My pleasure! And always remember, dear, art speaks in whispers; it's our job to listen closely and use our imagination.