Up The Staircase 1942

Tom Lovell’s ‘Up The Staircase’, made in 1942, is all about soft edges and dreamy light. Lovell's got this way of blending colors that feels almost like watercolor, even though it's probably oil. Look at the way the light hits the woman’s dress – it’s like he’s trying to capture the feeling of the moment, not just the look of it. The color palette is limited, but warm. The black tuxedo really pops. The brushwork is loose, but precise, especially in the faces. Now, check out the hand. The way it grips the dress, is so interesting. It's not about perfection, it's about the gesture. It reminds me a bit of some of Degas’ paintings, actually. Art’s like this ongoing conversation, right? Lovell’s work makes me think about how different generations of artists keep riffing off each other. It's about how we keep remixing and reinterpreting the past in our own way.