Young Nadege 2012

Gazmend Freitag painted "Young Nadege" in 2012, and it’s currently in a private collection. The flesh tones in her face have this gorgeous, almost rosy, transparency. You can really see how he's layered the paint to build up that skin, which is really something. I love the way the artist uses color to describe form; it’s as if the hues themselves sculpt the face. The darks aren’t just shadows, they’re almost characters themselves, creeping and swirling in the background and hair. Look at how the light catches her cheek – it’s not just a highlight, it’s like a little burst of life. Freitag seems to be in conversation with artists like Alice Neel, who isn’t afraid to let the paint be paint, to let the process show. "Young Nadege" feels alive with possibility, with the thrill of seeing something new emerge from the canvas.