Jacques Bellini 1983

Andy Warhol made this polaroid of Jacques Bellini, but the date is unknown. Warhol's use of the polaroid was like a painter's sketchbook; it was a key part of his process. I notice how the immediacy of the polaroid medium lends a certain casualness, but also an intimacy to the portrait. There is a directness here, a kind of unvarnished view. The colors are muted, almost faded, and there is a softness to the focus. The white border becomes part of the piece; its cool evenness contrasts with the warm tones of Bellini's face. Look at the way the red of the tie pops, drawing your eye to the center. You can almost feel the synthetic texture of the fabric and the way this contrasts with the skin of the face. Warhol's portraits, including this one, reminds me of the work of Alice Neel, especially in the way they capture something essential about the sitter, beyond just their likeness. With art, there is always more than one way to look at something.