Portrait 4 

Aurel Cojan’s ‘Portrait 4’ is an artwork made with traditional materials, such as paint and canvas. But the way they're applied here is anything but conventional. Look at the thick, almost aggressive brushstrokes. You can almost feel the artist’s hand, the energy of the moment captured in the swirling blacks, reds, and yellows. The paint itself becomes a sculptural material, loaded onto the canvas, manipulated with visible intensity. This isn't just about depicting a face, it’s about the act of creation itself. The painting becomes a record of labor, each stroke a physical expression. It's this emphasis on process that challenges our notions of fine art. Cojan seems less concerned with capturing a likeness and more interested in the raw, expressive potential of his materials. He elevates the act of painting to a physical and emotional performance. The result is a work that invites us to consider the labor, the choices, and the sheer materiality behind every brushstroke.