Unknown Man In Afghan Hat 2018

Salman Toor painted this portrait, 'Unknown Man In Afghan Hat', and right away, what strikes me is the way the paint sort of hovers. It's almost like it's been breathed onto the canvas. Looking at the orange jacket, it feels like Toor built it up with layers, letting the under layers peek through. See that little patch on the arm, and the cross mark near it? It's a reminder that painting is all about decisions, about covering up and revealing. This man isn't just standing there; he's being made, stroke by stroke. It reminds me of early Alice Neel, that same kind of directness, but with Toor's own spin. It's like he's saying, "Here's a person, caught in a moment," but also, "Here's a painting, caught in the act of becoming." It's this mix of vulnerability and strength that really gets me. It leaves you with more questions than answers, which, for me, is always a good thing.