Girl in Overcoat 

Editor: Here we have Patrick Nagel's "Girl in Overcoat," and, wow, the stark lines and simplified form are striking. She looks like she stepped right out of the nineteen-eighties, but with a classic, almost timeless, confidence. What stands out to you about this acrylic painting? Curator: The sunglasses, of course! What do sunglasses signify? For me, they have become an object to see *with*, while also signaling mystery and power by shielding the gaze of the wearer. They've come to embody that dichotomy within the broader narrative of the modern age. Editor: So, the sunglasses aren't just a fashion statement; they are imbued with symbolism? Curator: Precisely! The shades serve as an obscuring element, much like the trench coat, lending the subject an aura of inaccessibility, of power perhaps. They remind us how visual elements work on both conscious and subconscious levels to influence perception, informed by lived cultural experience. Nagel's works reference a shared cultural experience through readily identifiable figures, forms, and compositions. How do you perceive the stark contrast of the flat black overcoat versus her skin? Editor: I think the contrast adds to that confident, powerful feel. There's a boldness in how little is revealed and how much is suggested. So would you say that it’s that interplay of revealed and concealed imagery that's central to the artwork? Curator: I believe that is at the core of what Nagel is attempting to express here. That play between presence and absence echoes through all of human history; so you see the cultural continuity? What have you learned here today? Editor: Definitely! Now I see the image as less of a stylish snapshot and more of a carefully constructed statement about cultural perceptions. Thanks so much for sharing. Curator: My pleasure, I hope you will find a chance to explore the topic more!