Breakers 2017

Editor: Aaron Nagel's 2017 oil painting, "Breakers," strikes me as both classically composed and undeniably modern. The figure’s direct gaze juxtaposed with the geometric backdrop creates a fascinating tension. What formal elements stand out to you? Curator: The immediate formal elements that seize my attention are the geometric abstraction of the background and the almost photorealistic rendering of the figure. The sharp linearity of the backdrop plays a crucial role. Nagel utilizes a stark contrast, visually flattening the space behind her, creating a shallow depth. Editor: The pattern almost seems to push forward, competing with the figure for attention. Curator: Precisely. It's a visual push and pull. Note, also, the tonality: Nagel has confined his palette considerably. The muted colors enhance this quiet visual drama, but the lines still remain the central organizing structure. How does the lighting affect your reading? Editor: It's soft, diffused, but really emphasizes the contours of the figure's body and the folds in the fabric. There's an almost sculptural quality to the light and shadow. It adds a dimension, drawing the eye through all those details. Curator: Indeed. The modulation of light reinforces the central forms while working in counterpoint with the flatness behind. The formal tension, for me, constitutes its greatest strength. Editor: I hadn't considered how that push-pull feeling creates a visual dynamic and, I guess, makes you really engage with the forms and composition. Curator: Exactly, that is the enduring power of formal analysis: it directs our gaze and provides us with the proper instruments with which to discuss the objective arrangements within the picture.