Double Burden 1964

Philip Evergood made this painting, Double Burden, in 1964 with what looks like oil on canvas, and it's all about the process. The colors are earthy, but not afraid to be a little strange, a little off. Check out how Evergood layers the paint, thick in some spots, thin in others. It's almost like he's sculpting with the stuff. Look at the figure carrying a child, notice that the lines are loose and expressive, not trying to be perfect. The surface is rough, like the reality of the scene. The mark-making is so raw, so immediate. This is not about perfection, this is about feeling. There's a folk-art vibe that reminds me of someone like Max Weber, but with a deeper, more unsettling edge. It's a painting that embraces ambiguity. There are no easy answers here.