Hours 2018

Aaron Nagel painted ‘Hours’, and the way he builds up the face, it’s like watching time itself take shape in oil. Look closely, and you’ll see how the paint isn't trying to hide itself. It’s not hyper realistic. The marks are there, the brushstrokes visible, especially around the edges of the face and in the background. There's a raw quality to it, like the artist is unafraid to show the process, the hours it took to create. It’s thick in some places, thin in others, creating a real push and pull. I love the way he’s left those tally marks in the upper left corner, they become part of the composition, not just a record of time but a texture, a rhythm that echoes the subtle variations in the skin. It reminds me a little of Lucian Freud, that intense focus on the human form, but with a softer, dreamier edge. It leaves me with a sense of wonder, and maybe a little melancholy.