Solace 2015

Aaron Nagel made this striking painting, Solace, with oils, though when exactly I am not sure. The subdued palette—browns, grays, creams—gives it a sense of timelessness. There’s a real dance between the figure and the drapery, both rendered with this incredible attention to light and shadow. It's so process oriented, you can see it in the texture. I'm drawn to the way Nagel handles the folds of the fabric. Look closely, and you’ll notice these subtle shifts in tone and the way light grazes the surface. It's almost sculptural. But what really hooks me is how the face and figure are brought out against these heavy drapes. It reminds me a little of Lucien Freud, especially in the way the gaze meets the viewer, head on. Ultimately, though, Solace stands on its own, a testament to the power of paint to evoke mood, depth, and this amazing sense of human presence.