Refraction 2016

Aaron Nagel made this painting, “Refraction,” with oil paint, but its precise date is unknown. The image shows a woman, but it’s not a straightforward portrait. It's like Nagel is setting up a puzzle around identity. The color palette is muted, except for the odd and compelling gold paint on her hands. I wonder, what does this gesture mean? Is she embracing her vulnerability, or is it a kind of self-protection? Looking at the brushstrokes around her face, I imagine Nagel, with a small brush, carefully building up the tones and details. Painters often use the motif of a mirror to ask questions about self-perception. The question is posed: Are we seeing a reflection of who she really is, or a constructed image? It reminds me of other painters, like Jenny Saville, who also explore the body and question traditional representations of beauty and identity. It’s all a big conversation, with artists borrowing and riffing off each other's ideas, making something new each time.