Snooker 1971

Ken Danby made this painting, Snooker, at some point in his career, though the exact date is unknown, and when you look at it, the first thing you notice is how precise the whole thing is. The textures are amazing, especially the way he captures the almost ghostly hanging jackets and the determined expression on the player's face. The level of detail in the hands is striking. You can almost feel the tension as he lines up the shot. The way Danby uses light and shadow gives the painting a dramatic, almost cinematic quality. It makes me think about how much control and intention goes into realism, which is a whole process of its own! It also makes me think of Gerhard Richter, who made realistic paintings from photographs. But where Richter introduced blur to acknowledge the camera and his remove from the subject, Danby's painting is sharp, precise, and full of intention.