Soleil 2021

Vincent Xeus made this painting, Soleil, with oils, layering light and shadow to create a palpable sense of warmth. Look at how the strokes around her head capture light, like a halo, making her seem radiant. I imagine Vincent working, lost in a world of blues and ochres, squinting to capture the way light shapes form. The paint looks quite thin, fluid almost, which helps to create this dreamy, ethereal effect. See that smudge of green at the bottom left? It’s like a little secret, a trace of the artist’s hand, reminding us that this vision of light is also just paint on a surface. I'm reminded of other artists like Jenny Saville, maybe because of the interest in portraying the human figure through veils of coloured light. Each, in their own way, trying to catch a glimpse of the human condition. What do you think?