evergreen 2020

Aaron Nagel's painting 'Evergreen' seems to emerge from a dance between light and shadow, brushstrokes of muted greens and browns, maybe oils, that capture a moment of quiet introspection. The artist invites us into a room where a figure sits, bathed in the soft glow of a window, the blinds behind decorated with images of Japanese fighters with bamboo. I wonder, what was going through Nagel's mind as he built up these layers, these textures that give the painting its depth? Did he want to create a sense of stillness, a pause in the chaos of the everyday? Look at the way he’s rendered the figure's hand against her face—it's a simple gesture, but it speaks volumes about contemplation and unease. It makes me think about the Dutch Masters, but at the same time, there is a very personal feel to this work. Painting is an ongoing conversation, isn’t it? And I feel like Nagel is offering his own unique voice.