Nobel Art Gallery Serigraph 1982

This is a serigraph print by Patrick Nagel, and I can imagine Nagel in his studio, carefully choosing each color, each line, each shape to create this elegant, enigmatic image. I think what's fascinating is how the flat planes of color come together to suggest depth and form. The way the purple of her jacket meets the white of her skin, for instance, creates a sharp contrast that's almost like a paper cut-out. It reminds me of Alex Katz, who was also interested in the power of simplification and the beauty of everyday life, in a similar period. Nagel's style is so distinctive, so clean, and precise, yet there’s something so alluring in it. There’s a kind of confidence that comes through in every gesture, and the way the artist captures the essence of his model with so few strokes, it's really quite magical!