Screen Test 1946

Here's this painting, Screen Test, by Zoe Mozert. I can only imagine that this piece came into being slowly, building up through layers of thin washes that give the figure a soft, airbrushed look. And I bet Mozert was thinking, "How do I make this person look so alive and three-dimensional, they jump right off the canvas?" The surface is incredibly smooth, almost like porcelain. There's a dreamy quality to it that reminds me a little of Norman Rockwell but with a touch of old Hollywood glamour. Look at the gesture of her hand, shielding her eyes from the sun. It's so full of life and energy, it feels like she's right there, posing for the camera. We’re all influenced by what came before. Artists are always having this silent conversation, riffing off each other across time, which keeps art alive.