Narcissus 2017

Roberto Ferri painted “Narcissus” in oil paint, and though we don’t know the exact date, the color palette looks timeless, as if this could have been made anytime between the 17th and 21st centuries. It’s like, what is time, anyway? And how do we know what we know about the past? The paint is applied so smoothly, like a classical training exercise, creating a highly polished surface. Yet the subject matter is, shall we say, a little on the raw side. Take that blindfold for instance. In one sense it’s a classical nod to ancient sculpture, but on the other hand it adds a layer of modern angst to the whole scene. This image also brings to mind hints of Francis Bacon. It could suggest that Ferri is an artist who is consciously engaging with art history, and bending it to his own will. Either way, it raises some interesting questions. And who knows, perhaps that’s the point.