Portrait of Carré 2016

Aaron Nagel made this oil painting, Portrait of Carré, with delicate brushwork and a sensitive eye. I can almost feel the artist’s breath as he captures the nuances of light and shadow on her skin. I wonder about his choices. The rosy tint in her hair—did he apply it layer by layer, or did he go for it in one bold stroke? The way the background melts into a hazy gray makes the figure feel both present and dreamy. The painting process can be a real conversation. Here, the artist is talking to us about beauty, vulnerability, and the quiet moments of contemplation. I see a connection to other contemporary portraitists, like Elizabeth Peyton, who also find intimacy in their subjects. It’s like we’re all part of this ongoing art dialogue.