Portrait of Shirley Phillips 

Edward Runci painted this portrait of Shirley Philips using oil paint, probably sometime in the mid-20th century. Runci’s application of the paint is interesting, and worth considering closely. He lays it on thickly, using a technique known as impasto, where the marks of the brush are clearly visible. The physicality of the paint is enhanced by a vivid palette. These qualities give the painting a sense of immediacy; it seems to have been made quite quickly. However, the style also has connotations of mass production. Runci was a commercial artist by trade, and this portrait is likely connected to the world of advertising and magazine illustration. Runci’s technique suggests the rapid pace of production, and the consumer culture that portraiture like this helped to fuel. So, thinking about materials, making, and social context is important for understanding the painting's full meaning.