Untitled Portrait 1996

This portrait by Nuri Iyem, though undated, vibrates with the energy of its making; it’s like the painting happened *to* her. Look at the gentle stippling across the face—the way the colours blush into each other, creating soft shadows. The texture is so rich, it’s almost edible, like a plum left out in the sun. It's built up with countless tiny touches, a testament to time and patience. Each stroke feels like a breath, layering up until a presence emerges. Notice the subtle shift in the eyes, the way they’re not quite aligned—it gives her a sense of depth, of interiority. Iyem reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, another artist who wasn’t afraid to depict women with a raw, honest gaze. There’s no one way to read this painting, and that’s what makes it so compelling. It's like a half-remembered dream, open to endless interpretation.