Untitled Portrait 1996

This untitled portrait was painted by Nuri Iyem sometime in the 20th century. It is roughly 46 by 38 centimeters. It is a lovely rendering of a woman's face built up with small, soft strokes of color, like countless micro-adjustments. I can imagine Iyem coaxing the face out of the ground, patiently feeling her way through the form with touches of light and shadow. The paint isn't thick, but it has a gentle texture like skin itself. See the soft brushwork around her eyes; you can sense the careful observation and tender attention. The color relationships feel muted and harmonious—reds, pinks, and purples merging into a unified whole. It reminds me of other portrait painters, like Alice Neel, who captured a raw emotional intensity. Iyem's mark-making is more subtle, like a whisper, but it still conveys a sense of the sitter's inner life. When you look at her work, you're entering into an ongoing dialogue with artists across generations. Isn't that beautiful?