Portrait of Erin 2020

Curator: Aaron Nagel’s “Portrait of Erin,” an oil painting from 2020, offers an intimate study in realism. Editor: Immediately, I notice the luminescence he captures. It feels as though she is illuminated from within. The dark, almost monochrome background pushes her forward into our space. Curator: Precisely! It's a striking effect achieved, no doubt, through careful layering of oil paint. Let's consider Nagel's choices. The seemingly straightforward depiction of the sitter’s head and shoulders allows us to ponder the social constructs inherent to portraiture and the gaze of both artist and viewer. Editor: Definitely. I also think the garment—an open shirt—is vital to a broader reading. I would point out that he depicts the clothing’s folds and textures using deliberate brushstrokes. It begs the question: what is she being asked to present, to perform? It all appears like such ordinary apparel, yet that decision, it resonates with the visual vocabulary used to capture the ‘natural’ woman of current standards of female empowerment, especially when coupled with the piercing aqua gaze. Curator: Fascinating! The question of the sitter's intention in collaboration is extremely crucial. The material qualities also have implications. This is oil on canvas—historically a symbol of wealth and power—but Nagel wields it for something that can read as almost mundane, inviting a more casual consideration of labor. I'm drawn, in this respect, to intimism, because while a realist painting could also come off as cold and exacting, Erin reads as very kind. Editor: That intimacy allows a consideration for what portraiture means to female identity. Curator: So many portraits reinforce gender roles, through display of finery, virtue or status. The relative lack of material flourish in this piece creates a refreshing space to see the subject herself. Editor: Which offers an opportunity to challenge existing tropes of representation and move beyond the historical exploitation of the gaze. I see hope for change reflected in Erin’s calm eyes. Curator: A beautiful reminder that we're actively writing history every time we consider not only the sitter, but also the sociohistorical function and significance of materials in portraiture, like oil paint. Editor: Agreed. What initially seemed like a simply pretty rendering opens itself up to so much more upon careful viewing.