Jeana 1983

Patrick Nagel's "Jeana" is a screenprint that feels super slick, almost like it was made by a machine rather than by hand. But that's part of the fun, right? The colors are really flat, no blending or shading, just these solid blocks of gray, plum, and teal that create a sense of depth. Her hands, crossed over her chest, are so stylized and geometric. The fingers are pointy, like little arrows, and they cast these stark shadows on her skin. It's almost like she's protecting herself, or maybe she's just striking a pose. Nagel's work reminds me a bit of Alex Katz, with that same focus on simplified forms and bold colors. But there's something more aloof, more distant about Nagel's figures, they capture a moment of 80's cool that still feels fresh today. In art, ambiguity can be your friend, and who knows what this friend wants?