elle 2014

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to "elle," an oil painting by Aaron Nagel from 2014. It's a striking head-and-shoulders portrait. Editor: There's a somber quality that just grips you. She's looking down, and there's a beautiful muted glow about her. I feel like I'm catching a very private moment. Curator: The work, like much portraiture, exists in conversation with long art historical traditions of depicting the sitter to represent ideals. I’m curious, do you find that tension in this image? Editor: Absolutely. It feels…both timeless and modern? Nagel captures this amazing classicism, this delicate beauty, and the painterly brushstrokes gives it a vulnerability that’s so current. It’s as if a Renaissance master got lost in time and woke up with TikTok. Curator: And if we zoom in on those brushstrokes – there's an almost impressionistic quality in the application of paint, especially around the eyes and background. How does the work reflect or engage with the public role of art, particularly regarding representation of beauty standards? Editor: Hmmm. Nagel subverts the glossy perfection that usually sells, doesn’t he? "elle" feels deeply intimate. I mean, we aren’t seeing this constructed image… we’re witnessing a real person feeling things, maybe a little melancholic even. Curator: Her expression definitely hints at something deeper than a mere physical likeness, wouldn't you agree? In that way, does she offer a subversive or resistant approach in that world? Editor: I reckon, yes! The piece kind of wrestles control back from these imposed, hyper-idealized representations. It suggests we should pause and connect to a real, complex feeling… rather than consume and compare ourselves against artificial standards. It invites you into the world of introspection and just maybe you can ask about its deeper roots in arts. Curator: That certainly brings fresh perspective to the politics of imagery in our contemporary world. It will take time to unwrap but indeed makes this painting engaging and interesting. Editor: Right! Well, whatever it says for Nagel or his audiences, the best kind of art will speak to something within you personally…that only YOU will discover. Thanks for your thoughtful historical perspectives on this Aaron Nagel art.