Leila Webb Collins Davidson 1971

This is Alice Neel's portrait of Leila Webb Collins Davidson, made with oil on canvas. I can imagine Neel standing in front of her sitter, observing every detail, every line and shadow on her face. The light yellow of Leila's suit is so subtle, so soft. The way Neel's brushstrokes define the folds and creases in the fabric, it gives the suit a life of its own. Look how the colours shift in the background, the pale blues and creams are alive and breathing. Neel's portraits are so honest, so raw. She’s not trying to flatter her subjects or create some idealized image. She's interested in capturing the essence of who they are, flaws and all. And in doing so, she creates something truly beautiful and deeply human. You can see how she places her among other portraitists like Marlene Dumas, in her refusal to turn away from the difficult aspects of life. Like them, she seems to be asking: what does it mean to be seen?