Portrait of a Prostitute 2012

Joe Machine's "Portrait of a Prostitute" is rendered in subdued tones against a black background. I wonder how this image came into being, shifting and emerging through layers of thought and feeling. I sympathize with Joe as he grapples with the challenge of representation. What was he thinking as he applied those earthy hues to the figure's skin, building up layers of texture? The paint seems thinly applied, allowing the underlayers to peek through, creating a sense of depth. It feels like an attempt to capture something vulnerable, the model arranging her stocking with a gesture of self-conscious allure. This piece relates to a long line of portrait painters who have sought to capture the essence of their subjects, from Lucian Freud to Alice Neel. Artists are always in conversation with each other, borrowing and riffing off of each other's ideas. Joe invites us to contemplate the complexities of human experience. Painting is a place of embodied expression which embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.