Woman with Hat 1975

Alexander Bogen painted this ‘Woman with Hat’ with oil on canvas, and looking at it now, I can almost smell the paint! I love the bold shapes and dark colors, which feel very grounded. But then there's that vibrant pink used for the woman's face and neck, which feels like a burst of energy. I wonder what Bogen was thinking when he chose that color? Perhaps he wanted to highlight her presence, making her stand out from the geometric abstraction of the background. I like how the painting feels both modern and a little old-fashioned. It makes me think of early 20th-century painters who were experimenting with abstraction while still holding onto the figure. It reminds me that artists are always in conversation, building upon each other’s ideas, and pushing the boundaries of what painting can do. This painting is an invitation to see the world in new and unexpected ways.