Chrome 2021

James Jean made this piece, "Chrome," and it looks like it came about through a process of layering and meticulous mark-making. The color palette is very limited, a range of cool blues and grays, which gives it a dreamy, almost ethereal quality. Up close, you can see the incredible detail in the linework, like a very intricate tattoo. Notice the way the lines vary in thickness and intensity, creating depth and texture. The surface has a delicate, almost translucent quality, as if it were painted on porcelain. It’s as though he’s building up the image through these repetitive, meditative gestures. The way the figure curls in on herself, surrounded by these swirling, organic forms is very reminiscent of the work of Alphonse Mucha, though Jean brings a contemporary sensibility to the genre. Ultimately, this piece is all about the tension between control and spontaneity, representation and abstraction.