Divya 

Curator: Up next is "Divya," a compelling portrait by Joshua LaRock, executed in oil paint. It seems undated. What's your initial read? Editor: I'm immediately struck by its introspective mood. The subject's gaze is averted, suggesting an internal focus, perhaps even a hint of melancholy. It is masterfully done and almost haunting. Curator: Indeed. The portrait tradition, particularly in academic circles, has often been about power and status. Here, the power dynamic shifts. Divya's quietness isn't submissive; it's self-contained, and there's dignity in that. We can speculate how modern portraiture moved beyond the realm of simply immortalizing power. Editor: And the clothing contributes. It appears to be a simple, white blouse, which seems like a deliberate choice to not distract from the face. Visually the stark simplicity amplifies that feeling of an authentic intimate glimpse. It suggests the sitter comes from humble surroundings, someone of the working class maybe? Curator: Or perhaps not. The very absence of markers can be read in different ways. There is certainly a trend throughout the 20th century towards simpler settings in part encouraged by photography itself. Also the gaze of the subject doesn't follow this need to comply. Editor: Looking at the brushwork itself—the visible impasto—I sense both a traditional foundation and modern expression. LaRock skillfully models the face, but there's an expressiveness to the application of paint. It does remind me a lot of past masters. Curator: You see that blending of classical training with modern sensibilities often in contemporary realism. Artists often deliberately employ a loose hand in the backgrounds. It’s no longer enough simply to depict, but also to create a "presence" of the model which, when handled poorly, might just seem sentimental. Editor: It truly makes you think about who we immortalize in images and the emotions and feelings associated. There’s a certain timeless quality here that transcends a mere likeness. Curator: Right. This painting encapsulates shifting roles in society through art: from depictions of authority to a focus on individual humanity, which can be a profound statement in itself. Editor: A statement, powerfully and poetically rendered, wouldn't you agree?