Letters 2018

Carrie Graber made this painting, "Letters," with what looks like careful oil paint application. I see a world of shadows and light, carefully built up, almost like a stage set for a play. Looking at the surface, it's smooth, with no brushstrokes visible, like she's trying to disappear the process, yet the way the light hits the white slip is a beautiful, material thing. It's the kind of light that reminds me of Vermeer. It's a little unsettling, maybe even a bit voyeuristic, like we're peering into someone's private moment. The tension in this piece comes from the way the light falls, guiding our eyes to the intimate details—the curve of the figure's back, the pitcher of flowers, the way she is bent over the table writing. There's a melancholic mood in the air, but it's balanced by the warmth of the colors and the simple beauty of the scene. It makes me think about Fairfield Porter, how he captured the everyday with such grace, turning ordinary moments into something deeply felt.