Revenge 1935

Dean Cornwell made ‘Revenge’ with oil on canvas, and what strikes me first is the theatricality of it all! The scene seems to be caught mid-motion, with dynamic brushstrokes adding to the drama. Cornwell lays the paint on thick, creating a textured surface that you can almost feel with your eyes. The colors are rich and vibrant. Look at the red curtain, each stroke seems loaded with intention. But the focal point is the woman, her gaze direct and unflinching. Her form is built up from lots of smaller strokes, so the solidity feels like an illusion. Cornwell did a lot of illustrative work, and you can see some similarities with the paintings of Norman Rockwell. Both share a talent for storytelling, but Cornwell's looser brushwork lends his paintings a more contemporary feel. It’s like he is reminding us that every image is a construction and an interpretation.