Virgin and Child of St Andrews Fulham 2013

Paulo Tercio’s "Virgin and Child of St Andrews Fulham," is a masterclass in how flat shapes can create surprisingly deep emotional resonance. Tercio’s got a real handle on how to make colors work hard, setting up a moody atmosphere, where earthy tones are offset against an almost gothic black. Look at that flower on the virgin's chest. It's like a little burst of hope amidst the formality. Up close, you can see how the Tercio has used a fairly dry brush, to give the petals a slightly scratchy feel. This makes you realize how much texture is at play in the painting, between the smooth surfaces and the moments of deliberate roughness. The flattening of form is reminiscent of early Byzantine art. I'm also reminded of the way artists like Klimt played with decorative flatness. In the end, this painting feels like a conversation across time, an image that invites us to think about how we see, feel, and believe.