Portrait of the Poet Abraham Sutzkever 1988

Alexander Bogen made this portrait of the poet Abraham Sutzkever, and I love the burnt orange background, with that flash of complementary blue in his jacket. I imagine Bogen building up the surface, layer by layer. The paint is quite thin, actually, which gives it a delicate, translucent quality. I can see the canvas texture coming through. There's a real sense of warmth, and also intimacy. The poet looks wise but also vulnerable. It’s interesting how Bogen uses these dashes of color to model the form, especially in the face. The way he renders the glasses is really lovely. It’s just a few strokes, but they totally capture the light and the way the lenses distort his eyes. I wonder if Bogen was thinking about other portrait painters, like Modigliani or even Van Gogh, who were also interested in capturing the inner life of their sitters. All painters are in conversation with one another, across time, inspiring each other's creativity. Painting is an expression that embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.