Girl with Dore Bible 1982

Frank Mason made Girl with Dore Bible with oil paint, I reckon. The sombre tonality and loose brushwork create a contemplative, intimate mood; I feel like I’m intruding on the sitter’s private world. It’s like I’ve caught her in a moment of intellectual retreat. The face is soft, a little lost. I feel the artist, through his vigorous, sweeping brushstrokes, wants to convey a sense of immediacy, as if capturing a fleeting moment of the sitter's reverie. It reminds me a little of Rembrandt’s portraits, where the subjects are not always in sharp focus, but imbued with a sense of inner life. I can almost feel the weight of the book in her hands, its pages filled with stories and images that transport her to another realm. The colour palette feels warm and embracing. It’s a beautiful piece, and a reminder that artists don't create in a vacuum. They build on each other's work, riffing off ideas, pushing boundaries, and engaging in a silent conversation across time and space.