Battle 2016

Aaron Nagel made this painting, "Battle", and look at the way he uses oil paint to create a sense of both vulnerability and strength. The texture of the jacket, studded with what look like little silver armaments, contrasts beautifully with the smoothness of the skin. It’s all about surface tension, you know? The dark background almost seems to want to swallow the figure, but she holds her own, clad in this protective layer. See how the light catches on the studs? Each one is like a tiny point of defiance. And then there's her expression, a mix of weariness and resolve. It reminds me of Jenny Saville, in the way Nagel captures the weight and complexity of being human. It's like a visual poem about inner conflict, but rendered with such tenderness.