Outside Influence 2020

Jason Limon made this painting, Outside Influence, sometime in the 20th Century. The exterior of the skull is rendered in warm browns, mottled with colorful splatters, like the detritus of the artist's studio, each mark a record of a moment. The artist has created this kind of surreal diorama within the skull. Look closely at the small skeleton, the way it strains to hold the skull open, a funny, absurd gesture. The texture is rough, almost crusty, and the colors are muted. The light is dim, casting long shadows. I’m thinking about how the artist has used a limited palette and how that can create a sense of unity and harmony. There's a tension between the lightness of the skeleton and the weight of the skull. It reminds me a little of Red Grooms and the whole Chicago Imagist thing, but with a darker, more introspective edge. Art is such a great conversation between artists across time, each responding to what came before.