Voices 2022

Martine Johanna's painting “Voices” is a striking portrait rendered in oil paint with a fascinating color palette that is both expressive and deeply psychological. Just imagine Johanna standing before the canvas, wrestling with the hues, coaxing out this melancholic gaze. The teal hair, the orange and red around the neck and shoulder, the slightly parted lips... you can almost feel her working through the layers, making decisions, changing her mind. The material quality of the paint is evident, with visible brushstrokes. The subject’s eyes reflect an inner turmoil and longing, which reminds me of some of the German Expressionists and their intense and dramatic portraits. There is a sense of the artist's own vulnerability and emotionality being poured into the work, which is something that connects me to this piece. I think that's what makes painting so great: it's an ongoing conversation.