Woman with Hat 1975

Alexander Bogen painted this “Woman with Hat” sometime in the 70s and, wow, those dark greens and pinks are just exquisite. It looks like he has built up layers of oil paint to create an image, which feels structurally sound yet totally dreamlike. I particularly love the woman’s neck. It's like a pink column holding up this extravagant hat. The paint is smooth, almost translucent. Look closely, and you can see the texture of the canvas coming through. The hat feels heavy, but the neck is strong, proud. The texture of the rest of the work is more rough, particularly on the right, where some blue appears, and the paint is scratched and dry. This variety of textures is fascinating, and it reminds me a little of Klimt's portraits. Ultimately, this painting reminds us that art is not about perfection. It’s about embracing the happy accidents, the unexpected textures, and the raw emotions that come with the process.