A Dead Soldier 2007

Kehinde Wiley made "A Dead Soldier" with oil on canvas; you can see how that slick surface allows for smooth gradients, areas where he’s really working that blend. The color palette is muted and realistic, except for the splash of floral on the shirt and the almost iridescent purple of the jacket. The eye is drawn to those bright spots. What else does that jacket remind me of? Look at the way the figure is draped, almost like a classical sculpture, but then the juxtaposition with the contemporary clothing throws it all off balance. Wiley's work always has that tension, right? He's referencing art history, but also making it his own, making it now. Like a conversation with the masters, but with a modern twist. Think of someone like Mickalene Thomas sampling art history and remixing it with her own personal iconography. Art is just an ongoing remix anyway, isn't it?