Pythagore 2016

Amy Sherald made ‘Pythagore’ with oil paint, and what strikes me right away is how she manages to create such a sharp image with such gentle color. It's a process, right? Layering, tweaking, finding that sweet spot. Look at how the yellow of the jacket just pops against that hazy background. Sherald uses color to set a mood, a vibe. The gray skin tone is so distinctive. It's like she's saying, "I see you, but I'm also transforming you." I love how the smoothness of the background makes the textures of the man's clothes and beard stand out, don't you? That orange handkerchief, peeking out of the jacket pocket, is like a little wink. Sherald reminds me of Barkley Hendricks; both artists capture their subjects with dignity, but also with a kind of cool detachment. Both artists understand that painting is never really finished; it's just abandoned. It's all about the conversation, the back-and-forth, the questions that linger.