Engagement 1941

Tom Lovell made this romantic scene with oil on canvas. You can almost smell the oil paint and turpentine. You know, it’s wild to think about all the decisions, big and small, that an artist makes. Here the brushwork seems so clean, so controlled, I think Lovell must have had a clear vision in mind. Look how the light catches the woman’s face and the diamond ring, drawing your eye right to that intimate moment. What a job, to be the picture-maker for a nation! This reminds me of Norman Rockwell’s narrative storytelling and carefully constructed scenes. But where Rockwell tugs at your heartstrings with folksy Americana, Lovell’s got this elegant, Old Hollywood vibe. Paintings like this remind me that we are all constantly in an ongoing conversation, inspiring each other’s creativity across time.