Man Bitten by a Snake 1992

Odd Nerdrum’s painting, Man Bitten by a Snake, is a trip, right? It’s done with oils, that much is clear from the buttery strokes and glaze of light over everything. It has this classical feel, almost Caravaggio-esque, but with a strange, modern twist. Nerdrum really lays the paint on thick, especially where the light hits the figures. It’s like he's sculpting with light, giving everything a tangible, almost fleshy quality. Check out the way the snake wraps around the man’s leg – you can almost feel the scales pressing into his skin. And the guy in the hat, giving the thumbs up? What’s that about? There’s a conversation happening here, a push and pull between tradition and something totally off-kilter. It reminds me a bit of what John Currin does, taking old master techniques and using them to create something that's both beautiful and deeply unsettling. Nerdrum’s not afraid to leave us with questions, and that’s what makes his work so compelling.