Eirinie 2019

Here's Aaron Nagel's painting "Eirinie". I wonder what kind of brush he used? Look how the dark background comes forward, almost enveloping the figure of the woman, who looks kind of lost in thought. I can imagine Nagel building up this piece, layer by layer, starting with the darkest tones and gradually adding highlights to bring out her features. Her face is so smooth. And then the hair! He lets some of the golden light of the background seep into it. A few soft strokes around her eyes give her this kind of deep, peaceful vibe. It reminds me of some Renaissance portraits, but with a modern twist. It's like he's having a conversation with the old masters, riffing on their ideas and techniques, but making it his own. We're all stealing from each other.