On Set 2017

David Michael Hinnebusch created this painting, "On Set," with what appears to be acrylic on canvas. The figures are rendered with bold outlines and filled in with colors, evoking the ancient practice of icon painting. The frontal gaze of the figures is a dominant visual symbol. This direct, unwavering look has roots extending back to ancient Roman portraiture, where it signified power and authority. In early Christian art, the frontal gaze in icons invited direct spiritual engagement. Here, in Hinnebusch's painting, the figures seem to confront the viewer directly, creating an immediate, almost unsettling connection. The recurrence of such imagery throughout art history demonstrates a collective need to establish a direct visual link between the subject and the viewer, a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. These symbolic gestures are not merely artistic choices, but also reflections of our shared cultural memory. This non-linear progression is how symbols resurface and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.