Balls 2004

Lisa Yuskavage painted Balls with oil on linen, and when I look at it, I see a painting made up of soft, muted colors and subtle variations in tone. The brushstrokes are delicate, almost caressing the canvas, as if she were building up the image layer by layer. I find myself wondering, what was Yuskavage thinking when she made this? Was she contemplating the female form, or maybe exploring themes of motherhood and fertility? It’s interesting how she plays with the texture of the paint, creating a smooth, almost porcelain-like surface for the skin, while the blue couch is more matte. That's an interesting title, because there are many ways that this could be read. She makes you wonder if this is a classical pose, or something totally new? There's a conversation going on between different ways of making an image that goes back in history. It’s like artists are always talking to each other across time, bouncing ideas around and inspiring each other to create something new.