Mary Litte, Later Lady Carr 2012

Kehinde Wiley made this portrait of Mary Litte, Later Lady Carr, and look at her! What a presence. I imagine Wiley starting with those wild, graphic flowers on a black background, a real statement. Then comes Mary, layered on top, her skin luminous, her gaze so self-possessed. Think about the choices Wiley made. Those tight, controlled brushstrokes that give her features such weight and dimension. Her subtle smirk. What was she thinking? I’m always interested in what a painter leaves in, and what they leave out. And then those little graphic flowers appearing on her dress, as though she has become one with the wall. It reminds me of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s portraits too, in how they take on the grand tradition. These artists share a conversation across time, making something totally new.