Seductive Female in Profile 

Patrick Nagel created 'Seductive Female in Profile' using an airbrush, a tool that came into prominence in the late 20th century, often used in advertising and graphic design. The airbrush allowed Nagel to achieve the smooth, gradated tones and sharp, graphic lines that define his distinctive style. The flat blocks of color emphasize the subject’s carefully sculpted features, typical of the design trends of the 1980s. Nagel’s process wasn’t about traditional artistic skill; it was about a specific, almost mechanical technique that mirrored the consumer culture of the time. The slickness of the airbrush finish mimics the world of advertising, reflecting the growing influence of mass media. Nagel’s art deliberately blurred the line between high art and commercial design. His art embodies the aesthetics and values of the decade: cool, sleek, and effortlessly chic. Nagel shows us how materials and making are always intertwined with the wider world of commerce, culture, and society.