The Light Of Day 

Dan Graziano painted 'The Light of Day' using oil on board. Here, the canvas is divided into sharp, rectangular segments of color. Notice the broad strokes of orange, violet, and dark brown in the background, which create a geometric field that contrasts with the softened figures in the foreground. The composition draws our eye to the seated woman. However, her face is indistinct, almost blurred, which flattens the image, making it less about individual likeness and more about form and color. Graziano uses contrasting values to create depth, placing darker tones in the woman's dress and chair against the light of the table. The overall effect is a study in planes and textures, where the subject becomes secondary to the structure of the painting itself. It invites us to question the traditional values of portraiture, where personality and identity are usually paramount. Instead, Graziano seems more interested in exploring the semiotic potential of paint and form.