Robert B. Goergen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 

Curator: Here we see Daniel Greene's portrait of Robert B. Goergen, who served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the University of Rochester. Editor: Immediately, I’m drawn to how the suit both dominates and almost dissolves into the background, that striking pinstripe blurring the edges. Curator: It's interesting you note that; the brushstrokes in the background *do* create this swirling, almost atmospheric quality. Greene seems less concerned with crisp lines here. He’s more about capturing a certain... presence, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Definitely a focus on presence, but I also see how this work reinforces certain structures. Oil paint is used here for official portraiture—linking Goergen with a historical lineage of power and status. Look at the hand positioning and the luxurious materials; every aspect broadcasts wealth and control. Curator: And yet, within that controlled image, I find flickers of something more intimate. There’s a warmth in the subject's gaze, a slight smile... Almost as though he is personally inviting the viewer into a candid and casual setting. Editor: Perhaps, but the material choices argue otherwise. The fact that the University commissioned and possesses this work reinforces the role of institutions in shaping visual narratives and legitimizing certain forms of capital. Oil painting isn't just *there*; it actively *performs* its role. Curator: True, but perhaps the point isn't just about celebrating power. Perhaps it's an attempt to capture a moment, a life… Even within the rigid framework of the commission. After all, paint, brushes, the artist's hand, are physical things put to use. It’s difficult, even with such formality, not to recognize the act of crafting a personal image. Editor: A valid observation. Still, I wonder if, with these types of pieces, we sometimes overlook the subtle ways in which these choices around materiality subtly contribute to the maintenance of hierarchical structures. Curator: And I think about how the sitter maybe felt as he donned a formal suit, maybe even reluctantly so! Editor: Perhaps, now to go deconstruct another portrait, shall we? Curator: It would be my pleasure!