An intimate Inclination 2021

Editor: We're looking at "An Intimate Inclination," an acrylic painting by Lanise Howard, created in 2021. The first thing that strikes me is the stillness. The figure is posed in front of this soft, blurred landscape, and he seems so self-contained. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful reclamation of visibility. Consider the history of portraiture – who has traditionally been depicted, and who has been excluded? Howard places a Black male figure in the landscape, a space historically coded as white, challenging these dominant narratives. What does his gaze tell you? Editor: He's looking directly at the viewer, but there's a sense of vulnerability too. It feels like an invitation, but also a guardedness. Curator: Precisely. This is where intersectionality becomes crucial. Think about the performance of masculinity, particularly within the Black community. Howard's choice to depict this man with such nuanced emotion challenges stereotypical representations, offering a counter-narrative of sensitivity and introspection. How does the almost dream-like landscape contribute to this reading? Editor: It creates a sense of interiority, as if we're seeing his emotional landscape as well as the physical one. Curator: Exactly! The blurring of boundaries, the intimate space created, challenges the viewer to confront their own preconceived notions and consider the complex inner life of the subject. Are there any classical works of art that spring to mind for you? Editor: This painting made me think of Renaissance paintings, but the presentation feels very contemporary. I never considered what you mentioned, with this person inhabiting what I previously understood as an exclusionary space. Curator: By placing a contemporary Black male figure within the conventions of classical portraiture and landscape, Howard asks us to reconsider both the history of art and the social structures that inform our perception. Editor: It’s incredible how much historical context enriches the piece. I definitely learned something new! Curator: As did I, by thinking through the layers of visual and social information with you!